Occult Hepatitis B Infection in Hepatitis C Patients with Hematological Disorders

Abstract

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is determined by finding hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver cells of the patients with negative tests for HBV surface antigen. It is more common in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which can be transmitted by blood transfusion and is frequently seen in hemophilia and thalassemia patients.

Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection among β-Thalassemia Major Patients in Ahvaz City, Iran

“…40 OBI also has been found in patients with leprosy in Brazil (5.3%), 41 individuals suffering from hyperlipidemia in China (9.5%), 42 patients with primary glomerulopathy (3%) and lupus nephritis (13.3%) in Iran, 43 and among ART (antiretroviral therapy) naïve HIV-seropositive individuals in Mozambique (8.3%). 44 Despite other studies in which the frequency of OBI among Iranian BTM patients was0%, 13,14 data obtained in this study showed that one of 86 BTM patients, who were negative for HBsAg, had OBI (1.16%). This prevalence is far fewer than those reported in India (31.4%) 6 or Egypt (32.4%).…”

“…[21][22][23] The prevalence of occult HBV infection has been studied in different parts of the world and among various groups; however, there are conflicting with results even in a similar group. As an illustration, OBI prevalence among hemodialysis patients was 1.5% (Turkey), 24 0.5% (Iran), 25 0% (Germany), 26 1.3% (Japan), 27 and 0% (Italy) 28 ; in hemophilia patients was 1.73% in Pakistan, 29 9.3% in Iran, 30 and 0% in Polish 31 ; among thalassemia patients was 31.4% (India), 6 32.5% (Egypt), 5 and 0% (Iran) 13,14 ; in individuals with HCC was 30% (Japan), 32 38.5% (Korea), 33 50% (Egypt), 34 and 70.4% (China) 35 ; among blood donors in different parts of the world was 3.7% (Egypt), 36 4.71% (India), 37 1.98% (Colombia), 38 0.3% (Lebanon), 39 0% (Iran), 8 and 7.4% (Libya). 40 OBI also has been found in patients with leprosy in Brazil (5.3%), 41 individuals suffering from hyperlipidemia in China (9.5%), 42 patients with primary glomerulopathy (3%) and lupus nephritis (13.3%) in Iran, 43 and among ART (antiretroviral therapy) naïve HIV-seropositive individuals in Mozambique (8.3%).…”

“…12 OBI's various features are still debatable, such as prevalence, pathobiology, and clinical implications. 10 Reported from zero (Iran) 13,14 to 32.5% (Egypt) 5 in thalassemia patients, the prevalence of OBI is indeterminate because of depending on the sensitivity of HBsAg and DNA assays, and the prevalence of HBV infection in the target population. 15 Additionally, records on the prevalence of OBI among the Iranian population are inadequate.…”

Epidemiology, risk factors, and molecular characterization of occult hepatitis B infection among anti‐hepatitis B core antigen alone subjects

“…Although rare in the normal population, reactivation of OBI is quite frequent in immunocompromised patients, which might lead to liver dysfunction, fulminant hepatitis, and cirrhosis . The incidence of OBI is more prevalent among high‐risk groups, such as HIV and HCV positive patients, and also in regions with high endemicity level of HBV . The anti‐HBc positive subjects are also at high risk of OBI, therefore it needs basic epidemiologic information regarding strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of OBI.…”

“…[11][12][13] The incidence of OBI is more prevalent among high-risk groups, such as HIV and HCV positive patients, and also in regions with high endemicity level of HBV. 14 The anti-HBc positive subjects are also at high risk of OBI, therefore it needs basic epidemiologic information regarding strategies for diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of OBI.…”