Background: B2-microglobulin (B2M) is recognized as a surrogate marker of middle-molecule uraemic toxins and is a key component in the genesis of dialysis-associated amyloidosis.Objectives: To investigate the relation between hidden cardiac dysfunction in one side and B2M levels, conventional risk factors low hemoglobin levels, and aging on the other side. Subjects and methods:This was a case control study conducted on 50 patients aged 20-60 years with ESRD on regular HD and 50 apparently healthy individuals at El-Mokattam Insurance Hospital from September 2019 till March 2020.Results: There were statistically significant differences between groups regarding B2M, EF, LVMI, intraventricular septal thickness and LVEDD. There were no statistically significant differences between groups. Patient's B2microglobulin in Group (A) ranged between 76.00-109.70 with mean±S.D. 94.162±9.735, while in Group (B) ranged between 0.78-3.29 with mean±S.D. 1.956±0.704. There were statistically significant differences between groups. Patient's LVMI in Group (A) ranged between 111.87-131.59 with mean±S.D. 123.41±5.675, while in Group (B) ranged between 82.02-104.84 with mean±S.D. 91.63±7.236. There were statistically significant differences between groups. Patient's LVEDD in Group (A) ranged between 5.94-7.56 with mean±S.D. 6.79±0.505, while in Group (B) ranged between 3.27-5.25 with mean±S.D. 4.25±0.571. There were statistically significant differences between groups. Patient's LVESD in Group (A) ranged between 4.80-5.73 with mean±S.D. 5.34±0.250, while in Group (B) ranged between 2.87-3.65 with mean±S.D. 3.27±0.243. There were no statistically significant differences between groups. Conclusion:Plasma B2M level was significantly and directly correlated with some cardiac performance factors such as LVMI, LVEDD, and LVESD. It was also significantly and inversely associated with GFR, albumin and Hb.

Background Occult hepatitis B viral infection (OHBI) is defined as hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA detection in serum by sensitive diagnostic tests in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative patients with or without serological markers of previous viral infection. Aim This study aimed to evaluate hidden infection of hepatitis B among HBsAg negative chronic kidney disease patients on regular hemodialysis (HD) using hepatitis B core antibody as a marker in the sera of these patients, HBV DNA by PCR, and to evaluate the efficacy and efficiency of hepatitis B core antibodies in the diagnosis of occult hepatitis B in HD patients. Patients and methods Eighty chronic kidney disease patients on regular HD were included in this study; the mean age of studied patients was 41.8±12.72 years. They were recruited from HD Unit, Internal Medicine Department, Bab Alshearia University Hospital, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt, after exclusion of HBsAg positive, HBV antibody positive, intravenous drug users, and alcoholic patients. All patients were subjected to a full assessment of history, blood chemistry, HBsAg by ELISA, hepatitis B core immunoglobulin G (anti-HBcIgG), HB DNA by PCR, hepatitis C antibody (HCV Ab) by ELISA, and abdominal ultrasound. Results Our results showed that HCV Abs were positive in 50% of cases (40 cases); of these patients, 30% (12 cases) were positive for HBcIgG, whereas 50% of the cases (40 cases) were negative for HCV Ab. Of these, 20% (eight cases) were positive for HBcIgG, but the remaining 32 patients were negative for both HCV Abs and HBcIgG. All these results showed negative PCR in all cases (0% of cases). Conclusion OHBI among Egyptian HD patients is low, with a 0% prevalence by PCR; 6 months of repeated PCR is recommended as liver biopsy is difficult in HD patients and HBc Abs are not sufficient for the diagnosis of OHBI in HD patients.

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