title: Occult hepatitis B virus infection in Egypt.
abstract: The emerging evidence of the potentially clinical importance of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) increases the interest in this topic. OBI may impact in several clinical contexts, which include the possible transmission of the infection, the contribution to liver disease progression, the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, and the risk of reactivation. There are several articles that have published on OBI in Egyptian populations. A review of MEDLINE database was undertaken for relevant articles to clarify the epidemiology of OBI in Egypt. HBV genotype D is the only detectable genotype among Egyptian OBI patients. Higher rates of OBI reported among Egyptian chronic HCV, hemodialysis, children with malignant disorders, and cryptogenic liver disease patients. There is an evidence of OBI reactivation after treatment with chemotherapy. The available data suggested that screening for OBI must be a routine practice in these groups of patients. Further studies needed for better understand of the epidemiology of OBI among Egyptian young generations after the era of hepatitis B vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elbahrawy
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Alshimaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alaboudy
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: El Moghazy
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elwassief
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alashker
authors.affiliation: Ashraf Elbahrawy, Ahmed Elwassief, Ahmed Alashker, Abdallah Mahmoud Abdallah, Department of Internal Medicine, Al-Azhar School of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdallah Mahmoud
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Abdallah
keywords: Blood donors; Egypt; Hemodialysis; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus reactivation; Hepatitis C virus; Occult hepatitis B virus infection