Occult Hepatitis B Virus in Individuals without Liver Disease
Individuals
infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) typically
either clear the virus completely or develop chronic disease. Some, however, have
so-called "occult" or hidden HBV, characterized by low-level HBV DNA
in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg).
This
photograph is an electronmicroscopic image of hepatitis B virus particles.
According
to the authors of a study described in the February 13, 2008 advance online edition
of the Journal of Hepatology, occult HBV infection has been relatively
well studied in patients with various hepatic disorders, but there is little information
about cryptic infection in people without liver disease.
They therefore
assessed the prevalence of occult HBV -- that is, detectable HBV DNA by polymerase
chain reaction -- in the general population in Italy by examining liver specimens
from 98 HBsAg negative individuals with no clinical or biochemical evidence of
liver disease who underwent liver resection (partial removal) or needle biopsy
during abdominal surgery.
Results
•
16 study participants were positive for hepatitis B core antibodies (anti-HBc),
while 82 were negative for all HBV serum markers.
•
All were negative for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies.
•
Occult HBV infection was detected in 16 of the 98 patients (16.3%).
•
Occult HBV was seen in 10 of 16 anti-HBc positive patients (63%) compared with
6 of 82 subjects (7%) without anti-HBc (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion
Based
on these findings, the researchers concluded, "This study revealed that about
1/6 of the Italian general population might be carriers of occult HBV infection,
and this condition is significantly associated with the anti-HBc positive status."
3/14/08
Reference G
Raimondo, G Navarra, S Mondello, and others. Occult hepatitis B virus in liver
tissue of individuals without hepatic disease. Journal of Hepatology. February
13, 2008 [Epub ahead of print]
Results
