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Impact of occult hepatitis B virus infection on efficacy and prognosis of interferon‐α therapy for patients with chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Hasegawa Izumi,
Orito Etsuro,
Tanaka Yasuhito,
Hirashima Noboru,
Sakakibara Kenji,
Sakurai Mayumi,
Suzuki Seiji,
Sugauchi Fuminaka,
Ohno Tomoyoshi,
Ueda Ryuzo,
Mizokami Masashi
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
liver international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.873
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1478-3231
pISSN - 1478-3223
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-3231.2005.1096.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hbsag , hepatocellular carcinoma , occult , hepatitis b virus , interferon , immunology , virology , hepatitis b , gastroenterology , virus , pathology , alternative medicine
Background/Aims: It is reported that some patients with undetectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of occult HBV infection on the efficacy and prognosis of interferon‐α (IFN) therapy in HCV patients. Methods: One hundred and forty HCV patients without HBsAg who received IFN therapy were studied. Serum HBV DNA was quantified by real‐time detection polymerase chain reaction. Results: Of 140 patients, 11 (7.9%) were HBV DNA‐positive before IFN therapy. The serum HBV DNA levels ranged from 106 to 884 copies/ml. Four of these 11 patients showed a sustained virologic response by IFN, compared with 39 of 129 without HBV DNA ( P=NS ). Interestingly, two of the 11 patients developed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after therapy, compared with 16 of 129 without HBV DNA ( P=NS ). In the serial study, serum HBV DNA was transiently undetectable during and after IFN; however, most became positive during follow‐up. Conclusions: Occult HBV infection may not have a significant impact on response to IFN therapy for chronic HCV and development of HCC after therapy. Occult HBV may be sensitive to IFN although HBV is not completely eradicated.