Occult hepatitis B virus infection among anti-HBc only positive individuals in the southeast of Iran in high prevalence of HBV icfection region

ABSTRACT

The persistence of HBV-DNA in the serum of hepatitis B surface antigen negative individuals with or without the presence of HBV antibodies is termed occult HBV infection. From April 2005 to November 2006, we evaluated 110 patients who had only a positive test for anti-HBc. Out of 110 anti-HBc positive samples, HBV-DNA was detected in three cases. Positive samples for HBV-DNA had a level normal of ALT. HBV-DNA can be detected among anti-HBc only positive samples. Therefore, further testing for detection of HBV-DNA is recommended on each anti-HBc only positive individual