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. 2014 Nov 30;7(1):e22674.
doi: 10.5812/numonthly.22674. eCollection 2015 Jan.

Isolated anti-hbc and occult HBV infection in dialysis patients

Amitis Ramezani  1 , Mohammad Reza Aghasadeghi  2 , Farrokhlagha Ahmadi  3 , Effat Razeghi  3 , Ali Eslamifar  1 , Mohammad Banifazl  4 , Masoomeh Sofian  5 , Golnaz Bahramali  2 , Soheila Hekmat  2 , Arezoo Aghakhani  1
Affiliations

Isolated anti-hbc and occult HBV infection in dialysis patients

Amitis Ramezani et al. Nephrourol Mon. .

Abstract

Background: Occult Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of HBV-DNA in the liver or serum with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Hemodialysis (HD) patients are at risk of acquiring parenterally transmitted infections.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of OBI in HD patients.

Patients and methods: A hundred HBsAg negative HD patients were included in this study from main dialysis units in Tehran, Iran. HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs), hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and liver enzymes levels were examined in all subjects. The presence of HBV-DNA was determined in plasma samples using real-time PCR.

Results: A hundredpatients with a mean age of 58.5 ± 16.1 years were enrolled in this study. In total, 56.7% were male and 43.3% female. Anti-HBs, anti-HBc, anti-HCV and anti-HIV were detected in 56.7%, 2%, 5.2% and 1% of patients, respectively. Isolated anti-HBc was detected in 2% of cases. HBV-DNA was detected in 1% of HBsAg negative patients.

Conclusions: This study showed a low rate of isolated anti-HBc and occult HBV infection in HD patients. It can be due to improvement of people's knowledge about HBV transmission routes, HBV vaccination of HD patients and regular surveillance of HBV infection.

Keywords: Hemodialysis; Hepatitis B virus; Infection.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Position of Amino Acid Substitutions in Occult HBV Isolate
The Isolate Found in This Study Was Indicated as HD-Iran.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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