[Occult hepatitis B among hemodialysed patients]

The rate of hepatitis B infection remains high in hemodialysis units despite preventive measures. This could be attribuated to the presence of occult hepatitis B among hemodialysis. To study the prevalence of occult HBV infection in haemodialysis patients with negative Hbs Ag. A group of patients Hbs Ag [-] [n=173] followed in hemodialysis units in Monastir has been tested by the hepatitis B virus Amplicor Monitor test to detect hepatitis B virus viremia [virus hepatitis B DNA] in serum. A total of 173 patients HBs Ag [-] were included in the study [mean age: 60 years [13-74 years] sex ratio: 1, 98]. 11EV vaccination was made in 93%of patients. Twenty percent of patients were infected with HCV. The rate of transaminases was always normal even in patients anti HCV [+]. No dialysis patients had detectable hepatitis B virus-DNA by polymerase chain reaction technology. Multivariate analysis demonstrated an independent and significant relationship between anti-HCV antibody and anti-hepatitis B virus core antibody in serum. occult hepatitis B virus was absent in our study group. This could be explained by the high prevalence of patients hepatitis B vaccinated