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Publisher: Peytchinski Publishing
ISSN: 1312-773X (Online)
Issue: 2018, vol. 24, issue4
Subject Area: Medicine
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DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2018244.2196
Published online: 15 October 2018
Original article
J of IMAB. 2018 Oct-Dec;24(4):2196-2200
OCCULT HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG PATIENTS WITH LIVER DYSFUNCTION IN VARNA, BULGARIA
Denitsa Tsaneva-Damyanova1
, Elitsa Golkocheva-Markova2, Liliya Ivanova1,3, Tsvetelina Kostadinova4, Zhivka Stoykova1,3,
1) Department of Microbiology and Virology-Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
2) NRL Hepatitis viruses, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
3) Laboratory of Clinical Virology-University hospital St. Marina, Varna, Bulgaria.
4) Section Medical Lab Technicians, Medical College, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria.
ABSTRACT:
Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a challenge in virology and a clinically relevant topic. The present study assessed the presence of HBV-DNA in serum samples of HBsAg negative, patients with data of liver dysfunction, positive for anti- HBc total Ab with or without anti-Hbs Ab.
Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of occult hepatitis B in Varna region, among patients with chronic liver dysfunction.
Materials and methods: The investigation was conducted among 79 people, predominantly patients at Gastroenterology Clinic in the University Hospital St. ”Marina”, Varna, Bulgaria. Quantitative determination of HBV DNA was performed in the National Reference Laboratory for Hepatitis viruses at the National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
Results: From 79 investigated patients with liver dysfunction16 (20. 25%), were considered as occult HBV carriers. Fourteen of them (17.72%) were positive for HBV DNA with very low values, below 200 IU/ml. Two of the cases (2.53%) were with serum levels comparable to those usually detected in the different phases of serologically evident (overt) infection and are considered as “false” OBI.
Conclusions: Our data showed that OBI is more widespread than expected and can be identified as a significant risk factor for the presence of more severe liver damages and an important oncogenic factor for developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Keywords: Hepatitis B, Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI), Anti-HBc total Ab, HBV DNA,
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Please cite this article as: Tsaneva-Damyanova D, Golkocheva-Markova E, Ivanova L, Kostadinova T, Stoykova Z. Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection Among Patients with Liver Dysfunction in Varna, Bulgaria. J of IMAB. 2018 Oct-Dec;24(4):2196-2200. DOI: 10.5272/jimab.2018244.2196
Correspondence to: Denitsa Tsaneva-Damyanova; Department of Microbiology and Virology-Medical University, Varna; 3, Bregalnitsa Str., Varna, Bulgaria; E-mail: dr.tsaneva@gmail.com
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Received: 09 July 2018
Published online: 15 October 2018