Fernandez-Rodriguez CM, Gutierrez ML, Lledó JL, Casas ML. Influence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic hepatitis C outcomes. World J Gastroenterol 2011; 17(12): 1558-1562 [PMID: 21472121 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i12.1558]
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Conrado M Fernandez-Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Associated Professor of Medicine, Service of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitário Fundación Alcorcón, University King Juan Carlos, Av Budapest-1, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. cfernandez@fhalcorcon.es
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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 28, 2011; 17(12): 1558-1562 Published online Mar 28, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i12.1558
Influence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic hepatitis C outcomes
Conrado M Fernandez-Rodriguez, Maria Luisa Gutierrez, José Luis Lledó, Maria Luisa Casas
Conrado M Fernandez-Rodriguez, Maria Luisa Gutiérrez-García, Jose Luis Lledo-Navarro, Service of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, University King Juan Carlos, Av Budapest-1, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
Maria Luisa Casas, Service of Biochemestry, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, University King Juan Carlos, Av Budapest-1, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain
Author contributions: Fernandez-Rodriguez CM and Gutiérrez-García ML contributed towards the conception and design of the review; Lledo-Navarro JL and Casas ML contributed equally to the supportive work and supervision.
Correspondence to: Conrado M Fernandez-Rodriguez, MD, PhD, Associated Professor of Medicine, Service of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitário Fundación Alcorcón, University King Juan Carlos, Av Budapest-1, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. cfernandez@fhalcorcon.es
Telephone: +34-91-6219705 Fax: +34-91-6219975
Received: August 6, 2010 Revised: October 26, 2010 Accepted: November 2, 2010 Published online: March 28, 2011
Abstract
Persistence of hepatitis B virus-DNA in the sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cells or in the liver of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients with or without serological markers of previous exposure (antibodies to HBsAg and/or to HB-core antigen) defines the entity called occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Co-infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses is frequent in highly endemic areas. While this co-infection increases the risk of liver disease progression, development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and also increases the rate of therapeutic failure to interferon-based treatments than either virus alone, a potentially negative effect of OBI on clinical outcomes and of therapeutic response to current antiviral regimes of patients with chronic hepatitis C remains inconclusive.
