Prevalence of occult hepatitis B amongst Indian human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infected individuals—a pilot study

Abstract

CONCLUSIONOccult HBV infections may contribute to chronic liver damage, and associated reactivation amongst immunocompromised individuals, HIV-1 infected being a subset of them. 'Anti-HBc' testing followed by HBV-DNA detection by PCR can be utilised for such populations to detect OBIs. Early detection of hepatitis B viraemia will be important for deciding the antiviral therapeutic protocol so as to avoid evolution of antiviral resistance in the circulating HBV strains in HIV-1 infected individuals harbouring OBIs. MJAFI 2012;68:16-19

Occult hepatitis B virus co-infection in HIV-positive patients: A review of prevalence, diagnosis and clinical significance

“…Some of the differences are explained by the individual prevalence of HIV and HBV in the different populations studied. Although there are reports from central and south America [17][18][19][20][21][22] , the majority of the studies are from regions of Africa, India and the Far East, regions where the prevalence of both HIV and HBV is high [23][24][25][26][27] . Differences also arise from the type of high-risk group to which the co-infection patients studied belong (e.g., hemodialysis patients, homosexuals, intravenous drug users).…”

“…Furthermore, the available data suggest seronegative patients have a different clinical evolution and should therefore be evaluated separately. Another factor that is common in HIV patients and that is known to affect [46] Iran 3 (13.6) 2 (9.1) ND 1 (4.5) Bagaglio et al [47] Italy 9 (31.0) 9 (31.0) ND ND Bell et al [48] Africa [51] Spain 6 (2.4) 2 (0.8) 4 (1.6) ND Filippini et al [13] Italy 17 (20.0) 11 (12.8) 3 (3.5) 3 (3.5) Firnhaber et al [23] Africa 38 (88.4) 38 (88.4) ND ND Gupta et al [30] India 24 (45.3) 13 (24.5) 11 (20.8) ND Hakeem et al [52] Scotland 2 (2.8) 2( 2.9) ND ND Jardim et al [19] Brazil 8 (5.0) 2 (1.3) 6 (3.8) ND Khamduang et al [35] Thailand 47 (23.5) 47 (23.5) ND ND Liang et al [53] Taiwan 3 (2.3) 3 (2.3) ND ND Lo Re et al [54] United States 17 (10.0) 10 (5.6) 7 (3.9) ND Loustaud-Ratti et al [55] France [24] Africa 51 (10.0) 51 (11.8) ND ND Neau et al [58] France 1 (0.6) 1 (0.6) ND ND Nebbia et al [59] England 48 (14.0) 48 (14.0) ND ND Opaleye et al [25] Nigeria 21 (11.2) 8 (4.3) 9 (4.8) 2 (1.1) Panigrahi et al [26] India 12 (10.7) 9 (8.0) 3 (2.7) ND Santos et al [20] Brazil 16 (15.8) 2 4 (4.0) 12 (11.9) ND Sen et al [27] India 1 (5.6) 2 1 (5.6) ND ND Shire et al [60] United States 4 (10.5) 4 (10.5) ND ND Shire et al [61] United States 12 (30.2) 3 (7.0) 5 1 (11.6) 5 (11.6) Sucupira et al [21] Brazil 6 (18.8) 2 3 (9.4) 3 (9.4) ND Torres Barranda et al [22] Mexico 7 (18.4) 1 (2.6) 1 (2.6) 5 (13.2) Tramuto et al [62] Italy 24 (5.9) 8 (2.0) 7 1 (1.7) 9 (2.2) Tsui et al [63] United States 8 (2.0) 8 (2.0) ND ND 1 In some studies the anti-HBsAg positive group was also included; 2 Prevalence calculated using the reported data; anti-HBsAg+, antibodies against hepatitis B surface antigen positive; anti-HBcAg+ antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen positive. Prevalence (%) were included for each group of patients studied according the HBV serological markers (Anti-HBsAg-/anti-HBcAg+, Anti-HBsAg+/anti-HBcAg+, Anti-HBsAg-/anti-HBcAg-).…”

Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B Virus in Multitransfused Patients with Special Reference to Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection

“…Sen S et al, (37) in their study in HIV and HBV coinfected population have reported a single case of OBI in patients with anti-HBc total antibodies. Similar low positivity of 0-1% for HBV-DNA-PCR in individuals with anti-HBc alone status has been reported in both immunocompromised as well as immunocompetent populations.…”

Viral hepatitis in India: Armed Forces perspective

“…16 In India, the prevalence of HBV infection in HIV-infected persons has reported between 2.25 and 29.7%. 15 Sen et al 22 reported HBV co-infection rates of 7% (including 2% occult HBV) in a pilot study of 100 HIV-infected patients. In a larger cohort of HIV-infected individuals from the Armed Forces (n = 320), HBV co-infection rates of 12% have been found with a solitary case of occult HBV (unpublished data).…”