Importance of Isolated Anti‐HBc in Detection of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Hemodialysis Patients: Reply

Low prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic haemodialysis and kidney transplant patients

“…Previous studies on OBI prevalence in CHD patients showed a high variability in prevalence rates ranging between 0% and 58%, reflecting the background HBV endemicity, selection biases and differing sensitivities of HBV DNA tests. Newer studies in low prevalence countries (defined as <2%) such as Brazil, Japan and UK found a low (0.3%‐2.3%) prevalence of OBI in CHD patients . This is in accordance with our data with a 0% prevalence in our CHD cohort, questioning the expediency of monitoring HBV DNA regularly in CHD patients especially in low prevalence countries.…”

“…Newer studies in low prevalence countries (defined as <2%) such as Brazil, Japan and UK found a low (0.3%-2.3%) prevalence of OBI in CHD patients. [22][23][24] This is in accordance with our data with a 0% prevalence in our CHD cohort, questioning the expediency of monitoring HBV DNA regularly in CHD patients especially in low prevalence countries. Consequently, anti-HBc testing (with the possible consequence of subsequent HBV DNA testing) is currently not recommended in dialysis units.…”

Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation in Kidney Transplant Recipients Treated With Belatacept

“…Prevalence of HBV infection in kidney transplant recipients is therefore high: positivity of HBsAg is estimated at 1.4% in this population in France, 3 and positivity of HBcAb ranges from 7.9% in the USA 4 to 16.3% in Germany, 5 and 20% in Japan. 6 …”