Is Hepatitis C Virus Positivity a Contributing Factor to Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Hemodialysis Patients?

Abstract

Hepatitis B (HBV) infections continue to occur in adult hemodialysis units. Occult HBV infection (serum hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] negative but HBV DNA positive) may be a contributing factor in these patients. This study was designed to (1) investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection in hemodialysis patients and (2) compare the prevalence of occult HBV infection among hepatitis C (HCV)-positive and HCV-negative hemodialysis patients. The study included 138 patients on chronic hemodialysis. Eighty-four patients were HCV positive and 54 were HCV negative. HBV DNA testing was performed by polymerase chain reaction. We also recorded general characteristics of the patients, duration of hemodialysis, and serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels. Twenty-one (15.2%) of the 138 hemodialysis patients were HBV DNA positive. Nine (16.6%) of the 54 anti-HCV antibody negative hemodialysis patients were HBV DNA positive. Twelve (14.2%) of the 84 anti-HCV antibody positive patients were HBV DNA positive. The prevalence in anti-HCV Ab positive and negative hemodialysis patients were same (P > .05). Hemodialysis duration, demographic features, and biochemical parameters were not significantly different in patients with and without occult HBV infection in both HCV-positive and -negative hemodialysis patients (P > .05). HCV positivity is not a contributing factor to occult HBV infection in hemodialysis patients. None of the parameters tested help to distinguish patients with occult HBV infection from those who are HBV DNA negative.

Occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients in Recife, State of Pernambuco, Brazil

“…Among hemodialysis patients, this rate ranges 0-58% in countries such as Canada, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Spain, Iran, and Brazil 2,[12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . In Brazil, data on the frequency of occult HBV infection among hemodialysis patients are scarce.…”

Occult HBV infection status among chronic hepatitis C and hemodialysis patients in Northeastern Egypt: regional and national overview

“…Whereas some studies have failed to demonstrate any association between OBI and HCV (16) (17) , others have reported a high prevalence of OBI in chronically infected HCV patients (18) (19) (20) . Similarly, a close association between OBI infection and the existence of anti-HCV antibodies among HD patients was reported (21) .There is a broad range of clinical implications for OBI because it carries the potential for HBV transmission through blood transfusions, organ transplantations and HD.…”

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Variants in Hemodialysis Patients

“…Parenteral exposure also favors contamination by HCV (Dai et al, 2001). The studies performed up to now on hemodialysis patients provide widely divergent results, reporting a prevalence of occult HBV that ranges from 0% to 36% (Besisik et al, 2003;Fabrizi et al, 2005;Goral et al, 2006;Kanbay et al, 2006;Minuk et al, 2004;Motta et al, 2010;Siagris et al, 2006). These apparent discrepancies may be explained by significant differences in the prevalence of HBV infection in different geographic regions and/or by the detection limits of different HBV-DNA assays.…”