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What is the clinical impact of occult HBV infections and anti-HBc positivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C?
Cakal, Bulent; Cavus, Bilger; Atasoy, Alp; Poda, Mehves; Bulakci, Mesut; Gulluoglu, Mine; Demirci, Mehmet; Sener, Leyla Turker; Altunok, Damla; Arslan, Asli Berru; Akyuz, Filiz.
Affiliation
  • Cakal B; Department of Medical Microbiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Cavus B; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Atasoy A; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Poda M; Department of Genetics, Aziz Sancar Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Bulakci M; Department of Radiology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Gulluoglu M; Department of Pathology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Demirci M; Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirklareli University, Kirklareli, Turkey.
  • Sener LT; Department of Biophysics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Altunok D; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Arslan AB; School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
  • Akyuz F; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterohepatology, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Microbiol Immunol ; 66(8): 386-393, 2022 Aug.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35661243
Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined by the persistence of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome in the liver of individuals testing negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is the serological marker that indicates HBV exposure. The impact of anti-HBc and OBI on patients with chronic hepatitis C remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc and OBI and to evaluate their impact on the clinical and pathological outcomes of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The study included 59 HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis C patients who underwent a liver parenchymal biopsy. The presence of HBV DNA was investigated using an in-house nested PCR method. OBI was detected in 16 (27.1%) of the 59 cases and also in 10 (62.5%) of 22 (37.3%) anti-HBc-positive patients. None of the patients had positive serum HBV DNA. OBI was associated with the presence of anti-HBV antibodies (P < 0.05). There was also an association between anti-HBc positivity and the activity grades and fibrosis stages of the liver and also a prevalence of liver steatosis (P < 0.05). Positive anti-HBc results may predict OBI and may also be associated with the progression of liver injury in HBsAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis C. Therefore, it is suggested that patients with chronic hepatitis C should be screened for anti-HBc positivity, and anti-HBc-positive patients should be carefully evaluated for disease progression.
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Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Hepatitis B, Chronic / Hepatitis C, Chronic / Hepatitis B Type of study: Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: Microbiol Immunol Year: 2022 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication:

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Hepatitis B, Chronic / Hepatitis C, Chronic / Hepatitis B Type of study: Prevalence_studies / Prognostic_studies Limits: Humans Language: En Journal: Microbiol Immunol Year: 2022 Document type: Article Affiliation country: Country of publication: