Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in HIV-Infected Patients with Isolated Antibodies to Hepatitis B Core Antigen: Aquitaine Cohort, 2002-2003

Abstract

We prospectively assessed the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection by investigating HBV replication in 160 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with isolated antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen. This prevalence was 0.6% (1 case/160 patients; 95% confidence interval, 0%-3.4%). A second serum sample was collected later from 52 of the patients. HBV DNA was once again undetectable in all patients, except for the sole patient who had previously been found to be HBV DNA positive.

Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection

“…Occult HBV infection is reported in 0.6% of HIV-infected patients with isolated anti-HBc reactivity (197). Reactivation of both overt HBV infection (70) and occult HBV infection (4,22) has been reported in HIV-infected patients, especially after cessation or interruption of antiretroviral therapy.…”

Occult hepatitis B virus co-infection in HIV-positive patients: A review of prevalence, diagnosis and clinical significance

“…Furthermore, the available data suggest seronegative patients have a different clinical evolution and should therefore be evaluated separately. Another factor that is common in HIV patients and that is known to affect [46] Iran 3 (13.6) 2 (9.1) ND 1 (4.5) Bagaglio et al [47] Italy 9 (31.0) 9 (31.0) ND ND Bell et al [48] Africa [51] Spain 6 (2.4) 2 (0.8) 4 (1.6) ND Filippini et al [13] Italy 17 (20.0) 11 (12.8) 3 (3.5) 3 (3.5) Firnhaber et al [23] Africa 38 (88.4) 38 (88.4) ND ND Gupta et al [30] India 24 (45.3) 13 (24.5) 11 (20.8) ND Hakeem et al [52] Scotland 2 (2.8) 2( 2.9) ND ND Jardim et al [19] Brazil 8 (5.0) 2 (1.3) 6 (3.8) ND Khamduang et al [35] Thailand 47 (23.5) 47 (23.5) ND ND Liang et al [53] Taiwan 3 (2.3) 3 (2.3) ND ND Lo Re et al [54] United States 17 (10.0) 10 (5.6) 7 (3.9) ND Loustaud-Ratti et al [55] France [24] Africa 51 (10.0) 51 (11.8) ND ND Neau et al [58] France 1 (0.6) 1 (0.6) ND ND Nebbia et al [59] England 48 (14.0) 48 (14.0) ND ND Opaleye et al [25] Nigeria 21 (11.2) 8 (4.3) 9 (4.8) 2 (1.1) Panigrahi et al [26] India 12 (10.7) 9 (8.0) 3 (2.7) ND Santos et al [20] Brazil 16 (15.8) 2 4 (4.0) 12 (11.9) ND Sen et al [27] India 1 (5.6) 2 1 (5.6) ND ND Shire et al [60] United States 4 (10.5) 4 (10.5) ND ND Shire et al [61] United States 12 (30.2) 3 (7.0) 5 1 (11.6) 5 (11.6) Sucupira et al [21] Brazil 6 (18.8) 2 3 (9.4) 3 (9.4) ND Torres Barranda et al [22] Mexico 7 (18.4) 1 (2.6) 1 (2.6) 5 (13.2) Tramuto et al [62] Italy 24 (5.9) 8 (2.0) 7 1 (1.7) 9 (2.2) Tsui et al [63] United States 8 (2.0) 8 (2.0) ND ND 1 In some studies the anti-HBsAg positive group was also included; 2 Prevalence calculated using the reported data; anti-HBsAg+, antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen positive; anti-HBcAg+ antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen positive. Prevalence (%) were included for each group of patients studied according the HBV serological markers (Anti-HBsAg-/anti-HBcAg+, Anti-HBsAg+/anti-HBcAg+, Anti-HBsAg-/anti-HBcAg-).…”

Infecção oculta pelo vírus da hepatite B em comunidade amazônica submetida a intenso fluxo migratório, estado do Pará, Brasil

“…Em todas as amostras anti-HBc total+ isolado, foi pesquisado o anti-HIV, com resultados negativos, muito embora tenha sido demonstrado que coinfectados VHB/HIV podem evoluir para IOB, com baixa carga viral e HBsAg não detectável, necessitando de diagnóstico específico pela pesquisa do VHB-DNA 67 . Um estudo desenvolvido em Manaus, estado do Amazonas, mostrou que a probabilidade de se encontrar IOB foi quatro vezes maior entre os indivíduos HIV reativos, sugerindo a possibilidade da associação entre indivíduos portadores de HIV e IOB 68 .…”