Occult Hepatitis B Prevalence in Hepatitis B Vaccinated Dialysis Patients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Occult hepatitis B (OHB) virus infection is defined as the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the liver tissue or serum of subjects seronegative for hepatitis B surface antigen. OHB leads to the potential risk of transmission in dialysis service. Routine HBV vaccine in dialysis patients is recommended. However, HBV vaccine response rates are lower than the community. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of OHB in hepatitis B vaccinated dialysis patients. MATERIAL and METHODS:This study was performed at the Nephrology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cumhuriyet University, between 1st January -31st December 2014. Sera from 200 dialysis patients with negative HbsAg were investigated for HBV DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULTS:The mean age of the patients was 59.57±14.89 (18-91) years; 179 of them were on hemodialysis and 21 were on peritoneal dialysis. Of the patients included in the study, anti-HBs positivity was present in 135 (67.5%) and anti-HBs negativity in 65 (32.5%). The OHB prevalence was 1.5% (3). CONCLUSION:In our study, the OHB prevalence was 1.5%. We assume that HBV infection would be reduced further by routinely applying HBV PCR tests for all patients who start dialysis and by taking precautions against transmission. KEy wORDS: Occult hepatitis B, Dialysis, Hepatitis B vaccineÖz AMAÇ: Occult hepatit B (OHB) virüs enfeksiyonu, hepatit B yüzey antijeni seronegatif olan hastalarda, karaciğer dokusunda ve / veya serumda hepatit B virüsü (HBV) DNA'sının tespit edilmesi olarak tanımlanır. OHB diyaliz servislerinde, potansiyel bulaşma riskine yol açar. Diyaliz hastalarına rutin HBV aşısı önerilmektedir. Fakat aşılamaya rağmen HBV aşısına yanıt oranları topluma göre düşük bulunmaktadır Çalışmanın amacı, hepatit B aşısı yapılmış diyaliz hastalarında OHB prevelansını saptamak. GEREÇ ve yÖNTEMLER: BULGULAR:Hastaların yaş ortalaması 59,57±14,89 (18-91), 179 hemodiyaliz ve 21 periton diyaliz hastasıydı. Çalışmaya alınan hastaların, anti-HBs pozitifliği 135 (67,5%), anti-HBs negatifliği 65 (32,5%) idi. OBH prevelansı 1,5% (3) tespit edildi.SONUÇ: Çalışmamızda OHB prevelansı 1,5% olarak tespit ettik. Diyalize başlanacak hastaların hepsine rutin olarak bakılması ve önlemlerin alınması ile HBV enfeksiyonunun daha da azaltılacağını düşünmekteyiz.