Principais motivos de descarte de córneas para transplante na Paraíba: por que o anti-HBc merece atenção?* / Main reasons for discarding corneas for transplant in Paraíba: why does anti-HBc deserve attention?*

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o perfil dos doadores de tecidos oculares humanos na área de atuação do Banco de Olhos da Paraíba, destacando o impacto da sorologia positiva para hepatite B no descarte dos tecidos para transplante. Métodos: O estudo é transversal e utilizou dados do Banco de Olhos da Paraíba entre janeiro de 2013 e dezembro de 2022. Dados sobre procedência, idade, sexo, causa do óbito, tempo entre óbito e enucleação, resultados sorológicos e motivo de descarte das córneas dos doadores foram coletados. Resultados: O maior motivo de descarte foi por sorologia positiva (56,5%), sendo positivadas as sorologias positivas para hepatite B e HBsAg em 11,1% e 4,75% dos pacientes, respectivamente. Conclusão: A sorologia positiva para hepatite B como um critério de descarte absoluto é responsável por grande parcela de descartes, apesar da pouca informação sobre suas repercussões e representação de infectividade nos receptores do transplante.

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the profile of human ocular tissue donors in the area covered by the Eye Bank of Paraíba (PB), highlighting the impact of positive serology for hepatitis B (anti-HBc) in the disposal of tissues for transplantation. Methods: This is a cross-sectional that uses data from the Eye Bank of Paraíba (PB) between January 2013 and December 2022. Data on origin, age, sex, cause of death, time between death and enucleation, serological results, and reason for discarded donor corneas were collected. Results: The main reason for discarding was due to positive serology (56.5%), with positive anti-HBc and HBsAg serology in 11.1% and 4.75% of patients, respectively. Conclusion: Anti-HBc positive serology as an absolute disposal criterion is responsible for great part of disposals, despite little information about its repercussions and representation of infectivity in transplant recipients.

Detection of occult hepatitis B in serum and oral fluid samples

In occult hepatitis B infection (OBI), hepatitis B virus DNA (HBV DNA) can be detected in serum samples; however, oral fluid collection for detection of HBV DNA has not yet been explored, despite the availability of collection devices. Serum and oral fluid samples from 45 hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive patients were collected for the amplification of the HBV polymerase gene. HBV DNA was detected in five serum and four oral fluid samples (the detection limit for oral fluid was 1.656 log IU/mL in paired serum). In conclusion, simple methodologies of sample collection and in-house polymerase chain reaction (PCR) allowed detection of HBV DNA, and these could be used to improve the diagnosis of OBI, especially in locations with limited resources.

Hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus infections in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that some viral infections may be triggers for autoimmune diseases. The role of viral infections in the etiopathogenesis of pemphigus has also been investigated. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship between pemphigus and the hepatitis B and C virus infections. METHODS: This retrospective study included 62 patients with pemphigus and 50 healthy controls of matching ages and genders. The control group included relatives who accompanied the orthopedic patients to the hospital but had no history of systemic and/or autoimmune diseases. RESULTS: The group of patients with pemphigus was composed of 43 (69.3%) females and 19 (29.7%) males, and the mean age was 48.08 ± 15.38. The hepatitis C virus antibody was negative in all of the patients. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb), or both, were studied in 44 of the 62 patients. Two (4.3%) of these patients were positive for HBsAg and found to have HBV infection. Fourteen of them were HBsAb positive. Two (4%) of the 50 control subjects showed hepatitis C virus antibody positivity, while only 1 (2%) patient with pemphigus displayed HBsAg positivity. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for hepatitis B and C virus infections. CONCLUSIONS: This study does not support an association between pemphigus and hepatitis B and/or C virus infections. .

Immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in health-care workers

Health care workers [HCWs] constitute a high-risk population of HBV infection. There are limited data on the efficacy of vaccination in HCWs in Egypt. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune response to hepatitis B recombinant vaccine in HCWs in our hospital. 100 HCWs who completed three doses of intramuscular immunization with recombinant DNA hepatitis B vaccine [Engerix-B] at different time periods during the last 5 years were examined for hepatitis B surface antigen [HBs Ag], anti hepatitis B surface antibodies [anti HBs Abs] and hepatitis B core antibodies [HBc Abs]. 96% of HCWs showed seroconversion [anti HBs 10 IU/L]; 92% good responders [anti HBs > 100 IU/L] and 4% weak responders [anti HBs = 10-100 IU/L]. The HBsAg and HBc Ab were never detected among the entire responders. Younger age had higher anti HBs titer than older HCWs. The non responders were 4%; two of them had evidence of chronic hepatitis B infection. Vaccination against HBV in HCWs in Egypt is cost effective and achieved good response rate. Screening for Hepatitis B infection before vaccination should be considered to detect those with undiagnosed infection

HBeAg/anti-HBe, alanine aminotransferase and HBV DNA levels in HBsAg positive chronic carriers.

Serum samples from a total of 72 chronic hepatitis B virus carriers were analysed by serological, biochemical and molecular assays. The aim was to evaluate the relationship of the serological and biochemical parameters with molecular markers in order to assess the infectivity of virus. Out of 72 chronic HBsAg positive carriers, 28 patients were HBeAg positive and anti-HBe negative, 38 patients were HBeAg negative and anti-HBe positive, only 3 patients were positive for both HBeAg and anti-HBe and the rest 3 patients were negative for both markers. Detectable HBV DNA lcvcl was found in 92.86% HBsAg-positive/anti-HBe negative patients along with raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level (67.86%) compared with HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe positive carriers (36.84%) (p value = 0.02) and out a total of 38 HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe positive carriers, 12 (31.58%) patients had detectable lcvel of HBV DNA. Among the 14 HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe positive patients with elevated ALT level, 8 (57.14%) had detectable HBV DNA whereas out of 24 HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe positive patients with normal ALT level only 4 (16.66%) had detectablc HBV DNA lcvel. Significantly high rate of detection of HBV DNA was seen among anti-HBe positive patients with raised ALT level compared with the patients with normal ALT level (p value = 0.01).

Prevalence of Hepatitis B serological markers among health care workers in Baghdad, Iraq

Most previous studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B markers among Iraqi health care workers [HCW's] were limited to detection of HBsAg and anti-HBs antibodies. This work is a comprehensive one carried out to determine the prevalence of serological markers of HBV among a sample of Iraqi HCW's, and to elucidate the effect of various health professions, duration of professional practice, and the practice in different hospitals on exposure to HBV. A total of 1656 HCW's selected from various hospitals and medical units in Baghdad, together with 238 apparently healthy subjects [as control group] were screened for HBsAg and anti-HGs antibodies in the period from June 1995 to April 1998.All HBsAg positive subjects [HCWs and controls] were tested for anti-HBc [IgM], HBeAg and anti-HBe. Serum testing was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. A higher rate of HBsAg [5.4%] was observed among HCW's than controls [3.4%]. A significantly higher prevalence rate of anti-HBs antibodies in HCW's [39.3%] than controls [24.4%] was demonstrated. A significant difference in the prevalence of HBsAg was detected in the renal dialysis group only when each group was compared with the controls. The frequency of HBV infection was more than two times higher in HCW's with more than twenty years duration of professional practice compared to those with less than one year duration of practice. The lowest rate of HBsAg was seen among HCW's in general hospitals [4.8%], wherase the highest rate seen among those infectious diseases hospitals [9.0%]. HCW's still represent a high-risk group for HBV infection, and they may act as a potential source of infection to their contacts. Therefore vaccination of HCW's should be vigorously applied

Soroprevalência da hepatite B e avaliação da resposta imunológica à vacinação contra a hepatite B por via intramuscular e intradérmica em profissionais de um laboratório de saúde pública / Hepatitis B seroprevalence and evaluation of immune response to hepatitis B vaccination using intramuscular and intradermal routes in public health laboratory employees

OBJETIVOS: Determinar a prevalência dos marcadores da hepatite B (HBsAg e anti-HBs) e avaliar a resposta à vacinação contra hepatite B por via intradérmica (ID) em profissionais de saúde que não responderam à vacinação por via intramuscular (IM). MÉTODO: Todos os funcionários do Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL) foram convidados a participar do estudo. Amostras de soro foram colhidas no momento da administração da primeira dose de vacina (Engerix® B) e o HBsAg e o anti-HBs foram pesquisados, utilizando-se kits comerciais (Laboratórios Abbott®). Aos funcionários que não responderam à vacinação convencional (três doses por via IM) foram oferecidas doses de 5µg da mesma vacina por via ID. RESULTADOS: Foram envolvidos nesse estudo 404 funcionários do IAL, dos quais dois (0,5 por cento) eram HBsAg e 42 (10,5 por cento), anti-HBs reagentes. Dos 360 voluntários com sorologia negativa, 316 (87,8 por cento) receberam três doses de vacina (IM) e, desses, 259 colheram soros para avaliação pós-vacinal. Do total, 242 (93,4 por cento) apresentaram anticorpos acima de 10 UI/L após completarem o esquema inicial. Foram administradas duas doses de reforço, porém sete funcionários permaneceram sem resposta imunológica. A vacinação intradérmica foi realizada em cinco voluntários, e todos produziram anticorpos após a utilização dessa via de administração. CONCLUSÕES: A prevalência da hepatite B não foi maior nessa população do que na população geral. A vacinação por via intradérmica pode ser uma boa alternativa na imunização de pessoas que não respondem ao esquema convencional.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HBs and to evaluate the response of intradermal hepatitis vaccination in healthcare workers non-responsive to previous repeated intramuscular vaccination. MATERIAL AND METHOD: All of the employees from Instituto Adolfo Lutz were invited to participate on this study. Serum samples were obtained and HBsAg and anti-HBs were detected using commercial kits (Abbott® Laboratories). Employees were submitted to the conventional three-dose vaccination by intramuscular route. To those employees who did not respond to intramuscular vaccination, 5 µg doses of Engerix® B were then administered by intradermal route up to nine doses. RESULTS: Four hundred and four healthcare workers were enrolled in this study. Initially, two (0.5 percent) and 42 (10.4 percent) were HBsAg and anti-HBs reagent, respectively. Among the 360 negative volunteers, 316 (87.8 percent) received three vaccine doses and in 259 of them, serum samples were collected to evaluate vaccine efficacy. Among them, 242 (93.4 percent) showed antibodies titer higher than 10 UI/l. Intradermal vaccination was carried out in five volunteers and all of them responded to this vaccine administration route. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hepatitis B was not higher than in general population. Intradermal vaccine administration could be a good alternative in people that did not respond to previous intramuscular route.

Seroprevalencia del Virus de la Hepatitis B y C mediante la reactividad a los marcadores serológicos / Seroprevalence of the Virus of hepatitis B and C through the reactivity to the sexological markers

En Bolivia estudios epidemiológicos sobre patologías producidas por virus hepatotróficos son escasos, debido a ello sus patrones de circulación son practicamente desconocidos. En el presente trabajo se reporta la seroprevalencia de infecciones por virus por virus de la hepatitis B y C.

Low-dose intradermal and subcutaneous versus intramuscular hepatitis B vaccination in primary non-responding hemodialysis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with end-stage renal failure are at high risk of hepatitis B virus (HB V) infection. They have impaired immune response to HBV intramuscular (i.m.) vaccine. Non-response (anti HBs titer < 100mIU/ml) hemodialysis patients (HD) with the previous three-dose i.m. vaccination were examined with booster dose vaccine by i.m. , intradermal (i.d) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thirty-four HD patients who had been vaccinated with three-dose vaccine (40 microgram, 2 ml, Engerix B, i. m.) and had anti-HBs titer less than 100mlU/ml were selected. They were randomly divided into three groups and received a fourth dose of vaccine by i.m. (40 microgram, 2 ml), i.d (10 microgram. 0. 5 ml) and s.c. (10 microgram, 0. 5 ml). Then, serum anti-HBs titer was determined after 45 days and 6 months. RESULTS: Forty five days after completion of the re-vaccination course, anti-HBs titer was above 100 mIU/ml in 6/11, 3/11 and 4/12 of i.m. s.c. and i. d groups, respectively (p > 0.05). After six months, 4/11, 3/11 and 2/12 of patients had anti-HBs titer above l00mlU/ml (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: With lower dose of vaccine (10 microgram) in s.c. groups, these patients had lower change in their anti-HBs titer. Therefore, it is cost effective and practical to offer other vaccination schemes.

Change of Hepatitis B Virus DNA Status in Anti-HBc Positive Liver Graft / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Many patients with positive anti-HBc, but negative HBsAg, are known to harbor occult HBV infection, which may transmit the virus through the graft in liver transplantation. We examined the change of HBV DNA within the liver allograft tissue of the donor with positive anti-HBc, but negative HBsAg, before and after the transplantation and assessed its significance. METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with available posttransplant biopsies that received anti-HBc positive liver allografts between April 2000 and November 2003 were enrolled in the study. Intraoperative wedge biopsy of donor liver and needle biopsy of the recipient around the 12th postoperative day were used. HBV DNA within the liver tissue was identified by polymerase chain reaction technique using paraffin-embedded liver tissue. RESULTS: Among 13 patients that showed positive amplification before transplantation, 10 turned negative and 3 remained positive after transplantation. One patient, who was negative, became positive after transplantation. Three patients had recurrent HBV infection, but none had positive PCR before or after transplantation and recurrence was not associated with PCR results. Donors with low anti-HBs titer were more likely to be PCR positive compared to donors with high anti-HBs serology (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Under adequate prophylactic measures, the presence of HBV DNA within the liver tissue does not affect recurrence and most allografts harboring HBV DNA before transplantation will eventually show viral clearance. However, many anti-HBc positive allografts are infected by HBV at subclinical level so vigilant surveillance is essential.

Seroconversion after hepatitis B vaccination in healthy young adults, and the effect of a booster dose.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that 5% to 15% of healthy people do not show a protective antibody response following hepatitis B vaccination. The study was done to determine the protective efficacy of vaccination in healthy young adults 1 to 4 years after the three dose vaccination series and to study the effect of a booster dose on non-responders and hypo-responders. DESIGN: Prospective intervention study. SETTING: From January to June 2000, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo. STUDY GROUP: 258 volunteers from five batches of medical students vaccinated with three doses of the recombinant vaccine at 0, 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: 9.5% were non-responders. Duration of vaccination, sex and body mass index were not significantly associated with anti-HBs levels. 28.6% had potential risk factors for acquiring HBV infection. 86.3% of non-responders developed protective anti-HBs titres after a booster dose. The persistent non-responders did not have a chronic illness or past HBV infection. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial number do not seroconvert after hepatitis B vaccination. Testing of blood for anti-HBs one month after vaccination is recommended to recognise non-responders as a booster dose will be beneficial in the majority of them.

A randomised controlled trial of intradermal hepatitis B vaccination and augmentation of response with erythropoietin.

AIM: Intradermal administration of Hepatitis B vaccine (HBV) achieves better seroconversion in patients on dialysis compared to intramuscular administration. The aim of the study was to determine whether twice weekly intradermal injections of the vaccine can further augment the vaccine response as compared to once weekly injections. Patients with end stage renal failure on haemodialysis were randomly allocated over a period of 22 months to receive 20 mu gms of recombinant HBV by intradermal injections once a week (group 1) or twice a week (group 2) for 6 weeks. The patients recruited during the first 12 months of the study did not receive recombinant human erythropoietin (Epo) as it was not available (phase 1). During the last 10 months of study all patients received Epo (phase 2) in addition to HBV. RESULTS: A total of 85 patients were enrolled of whom 77 completed the study. There were 41 patients in group 1 and 36 patients in group 2. Seroprotection (anti HBs > 10 mIU/ml in the absence of HBs Ag and anti HBc) was achieved in 56.1% patients of group I compared to 77.8% of group 2 (p < 0.05). The seroprotection rate was 78.1% among patients receiving Epo (phase 2) compared to 60% among 45 who did not receive Epo (phase 1). Anti HBs titre in responders was 308.5 +/- 148.7 mIU/ml in patients of phase 2 compared to 198 +/- 112.8 mIU/ml in patients of phase 1 (p < 0.05). The subgroup receiving both Epo and twice weekly vaccine (group 2 of phase 2) had the highest seroprotection rate of 86.7%. CONCLUSION: Twice weekly intradermal vaccination is more effective than once weekly regime in achieving rapid seroconversion. The vaccine response may be augmented by use of Epo probably due to reduction in transfusion requirement and concomitant immunosuppression.

Distribution of anti-HBs levels in Korean adults

Exact titration of anti-HBs with mIU/mL unit is necessary in evaluating the success of HBV vaccination or in making a decision to increase the dose of HBV vaccination. Data of distribution of anti-HBs titers can contribute to cutting of public health costs by reducing unnecessary HBV booster doses. Moreover, anti-HBc is also an important marker for differentiation of vaccination-induced anti-HBs from infection-acquired anti-HBs. However, not much study about these subjects has been done in Korea. So we evaluated anti-HBs associated with anti-HBc and vaccination history. HBsAg and anti-HBs tests were done in 1,465 cases. The positive rates of HBsAg and anti-HBs were 4.5% and 74.6%, respectively. Anti-HBs positive rate was higher in the vaccinated group than that in the non-vaccinated group. The rates of anti-HBs positive cases with lower titers (10- or = 100 mIU/mL) were 68.1%. This suggested about 70% of anti-HBs-positive Korean adults (about 53% of the general adult population) have long-lasting immunity against HBV infection and may not require booster doses of HBV vaccination for a long time. Anti-HBs titers in the vaccine-induced anti-HBs group were higher than those in the infection-acquired anti-HBs group. No statistical differences were noted between male and female or among age groups. 25.7% of the HBsAg (-)/anti-HBs (-) group showed anti-HBc positive and HBV-DNA was detected in 11.1% among HBsAg (-)/anti-HBs (-)/anti-HBcAb (+) cases. Further study about post vaccination anti-HBs titer decay in Korean should be performed to help cut vaccination costs.

Desarrollo de un ensayo enzimático para la determinación de anticuerpos IgM anti-cápside del virus de la hepatitis B / An enzyme immunoassay for detection of hepatitis B virus IgM anti-core antibodies

La determinación de anticuerpos IgM anti-cápside (anti-AgcHB) del Virus de la Hepatitis B (VHB) es de gran utilidad para la identificación de infecciones agudas por este virus. El objeto de este estudio fue el desarrollar un sistema inmunodiagnóstico para la detección de anticuerpos IgM anti-AgcHB) Para la realización del ensayo fue necesaria la producción del AgcHB recombinante expresado en Escherichia coli. Una vez obtenido y purificado el antígeno se procedió a estandarizar y evaluar el ensayo. Un ELISA sandwich de captura resultó ser el último para la detección de anticuerpos IgM anti-AgcHB. Se realizó entonces la evaluación de 110 sueros humanos a través de dos ensayos inmunodiagnósticos, el inmunoensayo diagnóstico desarrollado y un estuche comercial. El inmunoensayo desarrollado arrojó una alta sensibilidad (99 por ciento) y especificidad (93 por ciento) al compararlo con el estuche comercial. Los resultados obtenidos permitieron evidenciar la utilidad del sistema de determinación de anticuerpos IgM anti-AgcHB como marcador serológico de una infección causada por el VHB, en particular en áreas endémicas de Sur América

Respuesta a la vacunación contra la hepatitis B en trabajadores de la salud del Hospital San Juan de Dios de Santa Fe de Bogotá

Objetivo: evaluar la respuesta protectora y la frecuencia de reacciones adversas de la vacuna recombinante cubana Herberbiovac HB contra el virus de la hepatitis B (VHB) en trabajadores de la salud del Hospital San Juan de Dios de Bogotá (HSJD), y estudiar el riesgo que tienen estos trabajadores de contraer la infección por VHB. Método: se utilizaron los marcadores del anticuerpo contra el antígeno de superficie (anti-HBs) y del anticuerpo contra el antígeno central (anti- HBc) del virus de la hepatitis B, los cuales fueron medidos 15 meses después de la vacunación en 132 trabajadores participantes. Resultados: esta vacuna (Heberbiovac HB) produjo una seroprotección de 93,2 por ciento (IC95 por ciento = 87,0 a 96,6 por ciento). El dolor local y el malestar general fueron los síntomas adversos más frecuentes derivados de su aplicación. Los trabajadores estudiados presentaron un alto riesgo para contraer la infección por VHB, ya que 22,2 por ciento (26/132) refirieron accidentes laborales con sangre o secreciones corporales en los últimos 15 meses postvacunación y 7,6 por ciento (2/26) de estos accidentes fueron positivos para el anticore del VHB. Conclusiones: 1) La vacuna estudiada posee cualidades de reactogenicidad e inmunogenecidad similares a las descritas con otras vacunas recombinantes. 2) Los trabajadores del Hospital San Juan de Dios tienen un alto riesgo para contraer la infección por VHB, siendo el grupo de enfermería el de mayor riesgo