prevalence of occult hepatitis b virus in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell compartments of patients with chronic hepatitis c infection in tehran-iran

conclusions in conclusion, occult hbv was found in 36% of patients with negative results for hbsag, but positive results for hcv. detection of hbv-dna in both pbmcs and plasma together in comparison with plasma alone provided more true identification of obi.the svr rate was significantly higher in coinfected patients than mono-infected ones. background occult hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection (obi) is frequently reported in patients with chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) infection. an association between obi and more liver damage, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and reduced response to interferon therapy in patients with hcv infection is suggested. results hbv-dna was detected using nested-pcr in 20% of plasma and 32.6% of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (pbmc) compartments. no significant differences were observed between patients with and without occult hbv for sex, age, duration of hcv infection, histological markers, presence of anti-hbc, hcv viral load, and hcv genotype. the response rate was significantly higher in patients with positive results for hbv-dna test compared to those with negative findings (100% vs. 71.9 %, p < 0.05). objectives the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult hbv, and evaluate its clinical influence on patients with chronic hcv. patients and methods a cohort study including50 patients with positive results for hcv, and negative results for hbsag tests was performed. the patients were divided into two groups: one group had positive results for both hcv and occult hbv tests (n = 18), and the other had positive results for hcv, but negative findings for occult hbv (n = 32). all were treated with peg-ifn alpha-2a and ribavirin. presence of hcv rna was followed in these patients.