Prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis

Abstract

Purpose: The frequency of occult hepatitis B is variable in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis and is unknown in our region. The presence of HBV DNA in serum of cirrhotic patients can be determined by molecular techniques despite the lack HBV serological markers. We aimed to determine the frequency of occult hepatitis B virus in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis in this study.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was designed to assess the prevalence of occult HBV infection in a group of patients with cryptogenic liver cirrhosis. Forty-four patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis who were examined in our hospital were enrolled in this study. Their serum were studied for HBV DNA levels using a real-time PCR method.

Results: There were 44 patients in the study group; Positive for anti-hepatitis B surface antibody was detected in 22 patients, and positive for hepatitis B core antibody was detected in 24 patients. In 2 patients, HBV DNA was found to be positive. In our study, occult HBV infection was found in 4.5% (2/44) of patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis.

Conclusion: The prevalence of occult HBV infection was relatively high in patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis; Occult hepatitis B infection may thus play a role in the development of decompensated cirrhosis and complications in cases of cryptogenic liver disease. 

Keywords

• Occult hepatitis B,Cryptogenic cirrhosis,PCR,HBV DNA

Kriptojenik sirozlu hastalarda okült hepatit B sıklığı

Öz

Amaç: Kriptojenik sirozlu hastalarda okült hepatit B sıklığı değişkendir ve bölgemizde sıklığı bilinmemektedir. HBV serolojik belirteçleri olmamasına ragmen HBV DNA'sının bu sirotik hastalardaki varlığı moleküler tekniklerle belirlenebilir. Bu çalışmada kriptojenik sirozlu hastalarda okült hepatit B varlığının sıklığını belirlemeyi amaçladık.

Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu kesitsel çalışma, kriptojenik karaciğer sirozu olan bir grup hastada okült HBV enfeksiyonunun yaygınlığını değerlendirmek için tasarlanmıştır. Bu çalışmada kliniğimizce takip edilen kriptojenik sirozlu 44 hasta çalışmaya alındı. Bu hastaların serumları gerçek zamanlı bir PCR yöntemi kullanılarak, HBV DNA seviyeleri için incelenmiştir.

Bulgular: Çalışma grubunda 44 hasta vardı; 22 hastada anti-HBs antikoru pozitif saptandı, 24 hastada anti-HBc pozitif bulundu; 2 hastada HBV DNA pozitif bulundu. Bizim çalışmamızda kriptojenik sirozlu hastaların %4,5'inde (2/44) gizli HBV enfeksiyonu saptandı.

Sonuç: Kriptojenik sirozlu hastalarda okült HBV infeksiyonu prevalansı nispeten yüksek saptandı. Okült hepatit b enfeksiyonu kriptojenik karaciğer hastalığı vakalarında dekompanse siroz ve siroza bağlı komplikasyonların gelişmesinde rol oynuyor olabilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Okült hepatit B,HBV DNA,PCR,Kriptolenik siroz

Kaynakça

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