Mina P, Georgiadou SP, Rizos C, Dalekos GN, Rigopoulou EI. Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in haemodialysis patients from central Greece. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(2): 225-231 [PMID: 20066742 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i2.225]
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George N Dalekos, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece. dalekos@med.uth.gr
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Mina P, Georgiadou SP, Rizos C, Dalekos GN, Rigopoulou EI. Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in haemodialysis patients from central Greece. World J Gastroenterol 2010; 16(2): 225-231 [PMID: 20066742 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i2.225]
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2010; 16(2): 225-231 Published online Jan 14, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i2.225
Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in haemodialysis patients from central Greece
Paraskevi Mina, Sarah P Georgiadou, Christos Rizos, George N Dalekos, Eirini I Rigopoulou
Paraskevi Mina, Sarah P Georgiadou, Christos Rizos, George N Dalekos, Eirini I Rigopoulou, Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece
George N Dalekos, Eirini I Rigopoulou, Research Group of Investigational Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Research and Technology, Centre for Research and Technology-Thessaly (CE.RE.TE.TH), 41222 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece
Author contributions: Dalekos GN and Rigopoulou EI had the original idea for the study, wrote the study protocol, and along with Mina P wrote the paper; Mina P, Rizos C and Georgiadou SP did the laboratory work, collected the clinical and biochemical data, and performed the statistical analysis; Dalekos GN and Rigopoulou EI wrote the final version of the paper; all authors have seen and approved the final draft of the paper.
Supported by Gilead Sciences Hellas Ltd. partially
Correspondence to: George N Dalekos, MD, PhD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 41110 Larissa, Thessaly, Greece. dalekos@med.uth.gr
Telephone: +30-2410-2285 Fax: +30-2410-671863
Received: September 21, 2009 Revised: October 27, 2009 Accepted: November 3, 2009 Published online: January 14, 2010
Abstract
AIM: To assess the hepatitis B virus (HBV)-DNA and the prevalence of occult HBV infection in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) patients from Central Greece.
METHODS: Sera from 366 ESRF patients attending five out of six dialysis units from Central Greece were investigated for HBV-DNA by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Only serum samples with repeatedly detectable HBV-DNA were considered positive. IgG antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were tested by a third generation enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), while IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) were tested by two commercially available ELISAs.
RESULTS: HBV-DNA was detected in 15/366 patients (4.1%) and HBsAg in 20/366 (5.5%). The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 0.9% (3/346 HBsAg-negative patients). Occult HBV was not associated with a specific marker of HBV infection or anti-HCV or anti-HEV reactivity. There was no significant difference in HBV-DNA titres, demographic and biochemical features, between patients with occult HBV infection and those with HBsAg-positive chronic HBV infection.
CONCLUSION: In central Greece, 4% of ESRF patients had detectable HBV-DNA, though in this setting, the prevalence of occult HBV seems to be very low (0.9%).
