RESUMO
Children receiving multiple transfusions or cancer chemotherapy are at an increased risk of acquiring and spreading hepatitis B [HBV] and/or hepatitis C [HCV] virus infections. Concurrent infections with both viruses are increasingly recognized and the reciprocal influence of dual infection remains controversial. Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection in patients who lack detectable hepatitis B surface antigen [HB5Ag] is considered occult infection. To investigate the prevalence of occult HBV in children and adolescents with hematological disorders and malignancies with or without HCV infection. Cross-sectional retrospective study. Hematology/oncology clinic of Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine-Ain Shams University. 100 polytransfused children and adolescents. Forty nine children with hematological disorders [group 1; median age 11.4 yrs] and SI with hematological malignancies [group 2; median age 8 yrs] were enrolled in this study. Sera were tested for HCV antibodies. HCV-RNA [nested RT-PCR], HBV markers [HBsAg. Anti-HBcAb IgM and Total and UBeAg] and HBV-DNA [nested PCR for s, c and x regions] Anti-HCV was detected among 40/49 [81.6c/c] in group 1[24/49, 49<4 HCV-RNA+] and 9/51 [17 6%] in group 2 [12/51: 23.5% HCV-RNA+]. Overall, HBV-DNA was positive among 38