Abstract
Occult HBV infection (OBI) is defined as HBV DNA detection in serum or in the liver by sensitive diagnostic tests in HBsAg-negative patients with or without serologic markers of previous viral exposure. OBI seems to be higher among subjects at high risk for HBV infection and with liver disease. OBI can be both a source of virus contamination in blood and organ donations and the reservoir for full blown hepatitis after reactivation. HBV reactivation depends on viral and host factors but these associations have not been analyzed thoroughly. In OBI, it would be best to prevent HBV reactivation which inhibits the development of hepatitis and subsequent mortality. In diverse cases with insufficient data to recommend routine prophylaxis, early identification of virologic reactivation is essential to start antiviral therapy. For retrieving articles regarding OBI, various databases, including OVID, PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect, were used.
Highlights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem with about 350–400 million chronically infected individuals [1]
HBV infection can induce a wide spectrum of clinical features, ranging from an inactive carrier state to fulminate hepatitis, cirrhosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma [2]
In the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) assays, the use of multivalent anti-HBs antibodies is recommended for detection of false Occult HBV infection (OBI) [3]
Summary
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major global health problem with about 350–400 million chronically infected individuals [1]. According to European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), about one-third of the world’s populations have serological evidence of past or present HBV infection [3]. Many of these individuals may unknowingly carry the virus for several years after recovery from acute hepatitis B without showing any clinical or biochemical evidence of liver disease, and serological markers can identify different clinical states of viral persistence [4, 5]. Chronic infection is characterized by persistence of this antigen and presence of HBV DNA in serum and resolved HBV infection when patients show seropositivity for –HBc and HBs antibodies. Depending on the HBV antibodies (anti-HBc and/or anti-HBs), OBI may be seropositive or seronegative [2, 3]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
