Occult hepatitis B virus infection in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C liver diseases. A cross sectional study among patients involved in the national campaign for treatment of chronic hepatitis C in Sharkia Governorate, Egypt

ABSTRACT

Background: HBV infection is a major Egyptian and global health problem. Occult hepatitis B virus [HBV infection has been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are negative, for HBV, surface antigen [HBs Ag]. However, the significance of "silent" HBV in hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is unknown. Overt HBV and HCV co-infection has been reported to be associated with a more severe liver disease, increased frequency of HCC and resistance to a-interferon [alpha-INF] therapy