Infrequent occurrence of silent HBV infection among Indian patients with chronic liver disease.
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2001-05-13
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of silent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).
METHODS: Plasma samples from 71 CLD patients including 9 HBsAg-positive individuals were tested for HBV DNA by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), and for HBV serum markers, i.e., anti-HBc antibody, HBeAg and anti-HBe antibody. The individuals were also tested for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA and anti-HCV antibody.
RESULTS: Among 62 HBsAg-negative patients, silent HBV infection was seen in only two (3.2%). Silent HBV infection was not found in any of the 26 patients who had evidence of HCV infection. One HBsAg-positive patient was positive for anti-HCV in the absence of HCV RNA.
CONCLUSIONS: There is a low rate of silent HBV infection among patients with CLD in India, where HBV is moderately endemic. Silent HBV infection is not associated with HCV-related CLD, which is in contrast to reports from other HBV-endemic areas in Asia.
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Radhakrishnan S, Abraham P, Raghuraman S, Kabrawala M, Eapen CE, Sridharan G, Chandy G. Infrequent occurrence of silent HBV infection among Indian patients with chronic liver disease. Indian Journal of Gastroenterology. 2001 May-Jun; 20(3): 87-9