Occult hepatitis B infection in Turkish HIV-infected patients: A

Abstract

Objective Occult hepatitis B infection (OHBI) appears to have a higher prevalence in populations at high risk for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with concomitant liver disease. The aim was to assess the prevalence of OHBI in a sample of human immunodeficiency virus -1 positive and HBV surface antigen-negative (HIV-1+/HBsAg-) Turkish patients.

Methods Ten centres in Turkey were included in the study. Patients were selected on the basis of a power calculation with a known population size of HIV-positive patients and a reported prevalence of OHBI. Gender, age, occupation, place of residence, treatment and clinical status, and laboratory results, including immunodeficiency panel, antibody tests, hemogram, biochemistry, and coagulation studies were evaluated retrospectively.

Results The number of HIV-infected patients followed in these centres was 3172 and the sample population numbered 278. All 278 were HBsAg negative. The mean age of the sample was 37.2 +/- 13.1 years and 235 (84.5%) were male. All but one patient (99.6%) had been treated with antiretroviral therapy. Of the 278 patients, 169 (60.6%) were positive for Anti-HBs and 125 (44.8%) were positive for Anti-HBc IgG. HIV RNA was detected in 203/278 (73%) of the patients. Four HBV DNA (1.4%) were diagnosed with OHBI. There was no significant difference in hemogram, hemoglobin or bilirubin concentrations in those with OHBI compared with the other patients.

Conclusion In a representative sample of HIV+ patients from 10 Turkish centres, the prevalence of OHBI was found to be 1.4%. In HIV positive patients, it is important to identify those with OHBI for optimal clinical management and prognosis.

C1 [Unlu, Gulten] Univ Hlth Sci, Kocaeli Derince Training & Res Hosp, Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol Clin, Kocaeli, Turkey.

[Yildiz, Yesim] Gazi Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Ankara, Turkey.

[Oren, Meryem Merve] Istanbul Univ, Dept Publ Hlth, Istanbul Fac Med, Istanbul, Turkey.

[Cabalak, Mehmet] Mustafa Kemal Univ, Med Fac, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Antakya, Turkey.

[Mete, Ozlem; Karaoglan, Ilkay] Gaziantep Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Gaziantep, Turkey.

[Komur, Suheyla; Tasova, Yesim] Cukurova Univ, Med Fac, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Adana, Turkey.

[Yildirim, Figen] Antalya Training & Res Hosp, Clin Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Antalya, Turkey.

[Inan, Dilara] Akdeniz Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Antalya, Turkey.

[Altunisik Toplu, Sibel; Bayindir, Yasar] Inonu Univ, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Med Fac, Malatya, Turkey.

[Akhan, Sila] Kocaeli Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Kocaeli, Turkey.

[Karasahin, Omer] Erzurum Reg Training & Res Hosp, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Erzurum, Turkey.

[Akdemir Kalkan, Irem] Ankara Univ, Fac Med, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Ankara, Turkey.

[Demir, Yakup; Celen, Mustafa Kemal] Dicle Univ, Dept Infect Dis & Clin Microbiol, Fac Med, Diyarbakir, Turkey.

[Ayhan, Merve] Ela Pharm, Self Employed Pharmacists, Batman, Turkey.

[Dal, Tuba] Ankara Yildirim Beyazit Univ, Med Fac, Med Microbiol Dept, Ankara, Turkey.