Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in a cohort of HIV-positive patients resident in Sicily, Italy.
Occult hepatitis B virus (OBI) in HIV-infected groups is still debated, as well as the associated risk-factors and clinical significance. In this paper, we examined a total of 405 HBsAg-negative/HIV-infected patients enrolled from January 2007 to December 2009. Overall, the prevalence of OBI was 5.9% (95% confidence interval (CI(₉₅%): 3.8-8.7%); it was more frequently associated with "anti-HBc alone" serological marker (11.3%; adjusted odds ratio = 3.7, CI(₉₅%): 1.4-9.8), although it was also detected in the absence of any HBV serological marker (4.9%; CI(₉₅%): 2.3-9.1%). A low prevalence of anti-HCV-positive patients with OBI was found (3.1%; CI(₉₅%): 0.6-8.7%). HIV RNA plasma levels or other immunological/clinical characteristics were not significantly associated with OBI. All but one occult HBV infections were sustained by genotype D viral strains. OBI is relatively frequent in HIV-infected patients, although it does not seem to exert a relevant clinical impact. Viral genotypes in occult HBV infections reflect those circulating in the Mediterranean area.
Department of Sciences for the Health Promotion and Mother and Child Care "G. D'Alessandro", Hygiene Section, University of Palermo, 133 Via del Vespro, 90127 Palermo, Italy.
Fabio
F
Tramuto
Carmelo Massimo
CM
Maida
Giuseppina M E
GM
Colomba
Paola
P
Di Carlo
Francesco
F
Vitale
D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012802:Sicily / Q000453:epidemiology
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens