Objectives: Occult HBV infection is defined by positive HBV DNA in individuals with undetectable levels of HBsAg. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of occult HBV infection in HIV-infected patients.
Methods: Serum samples were obtained from 105 HBsAg-negative HIV patients who were hospitalized and were not given anti-virus treatment at Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center. Microparticle enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) was used to detect HBV serologic markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc). ELISA was used to detect HCV antibody. CD4+ T cell count was examined with flow cytometry. Nested PCR was used to amplify surface protein region of HBV.
Results: 32 (30.5%) patients (27 men, 5 women) were HBV DNA positive in the 105 HBsAg-negative HIV-infected patients (92 men and 13 women). 22 patients (including 5 patients with HBV DNA +) were in 16-30 years group, 44 patients (including 15 patients with HBV DNA +) were in 3149 years group and 39 patients (including 12 patients with HBV DNA +) were in 50-75 years group. 5 patients were negative for all HBV serologic markers and 27 patients detected with at least one of anti-HBc, anti-HBe or anti-HBs. 14 patients (29.8%) with HBV DNA + in 47 HIV-infected patients were coinfected with HCV, 18 patients (31.0%) were HBV DNA + in 58 HIV-monoinfected patients. The median absolute CD4+ T cell count was 145.1 cells/microl (4-623 cells/microl), 26 patients (34.7%) were HBV DNA + in 75 AIDS patients with CD4+ T cell <200 cells/microl and 6 patients (20.0%) HBV DNA + in 30 HIV-infected patients with CD4+ T cell >200 cells/microl. No statistical significant association could be established between the above factors.
Conclusions: It is found that occult HBV did occur in HIV-infected patients. No statistical significant association could be established between occult HBV infection and gender, age, HBV serologic markers, coinfected HCV and CD4+ T cell count.