Open Access“Anti-HBc alone” in human immunodeficiency virus-positive and immuno-suppressed lymphoma patients
Author(s) -
Yu Xuan Koo,
Daniel S.W. Tan,
Iain Tan,
Richard Quek,
Miriam Tao,
Soon Thye Lim
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
world journal of gastroenterology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.427
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 2219-2840
pISSN - 1007-9327
DOI - 10.3748/wjg.15.3834
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis b virus , immunology , lymphoma , hepatitis b , antibody , antigen , virology , context (archaeology) , hbsag , virus , biology , paleontology
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in various parts of the world. A proportion of patients have resolved prior exposure to HBV, as evidenced by the clearance of circulating hepatitis B surface antigen and the appearance of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), which could produce protective antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs). With time, anti-HBs in some patients may become negative. Such patients are described as having occult HBV infection or "anti-HBc alone". In the context of immunodeficient patients, such as HIV patients or lymphoma patients undergoing immunosuppressive immunotherapy, the lack of protective anti-HBs may increase the risk of hepatitis B reactivation. Serum HBV DNA testing may be necessary in "anti-HBc alone" patients, to detect patients at a high risk of developing HBV infection allowing appropriate prophylactic management.