Anti‐centrosome antibodies: Prevalence and disease association in Chinese population

Anti‐centrosome antibodies are rare findings with undefined clinical significance in clinical research. We aimed at investigating the prevalence and clinical significance of anti‐centrosome antibodies in Chinese population. Testing results of total of 281,230 ANA‐positive sera were retrospectively obtained from West China Hospital Sichuan University in China between 2008 and 2017. We retrospectively collected and analysed the clinical and laboratory data of the patients with positive anti‐centrosome antibody. Of the 356 453 patients tested, 281 230 patients had positive antinuclear antibodies (ANAs, 78.9%), but only 78 patients with positive anti‐centrosome antibodies (0.022%), of which 74.4% are females. Diagnoses were established in 69 of 78 patients: 37 cases were autoimmune diseases, mainly including undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD, 9/37), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, 6/37), Sjögren's syndrome (SS, 5/37) and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC, 5/37), and the remaining were other autoimmune conditions. The most frequent clinical symptoms of the anti–centrosome‐positive patients were arthralgia and eyes and mouth drying. Additionally, 86.7% of anti‐centrosome antibodies were not associated with other ANA profiles; however, when associated, the most frequent ANA was anti‐U1RNP. Anti‐centrosome antibodies are featured by a low prevalence and female gender predominance. They are correlated with some specific diseases, both autoimmune diseases, especially UCTD, RA, SS and PBC, and non‐autoimmune diseases, such as infection and cancer, which suggests that they might be potential supporting serological markers of these diseases.     

Resolution of HBV infection occurs sooner than recovery of renal disease in adult serum HBsAg‐negative HBV–associated glomerulonephritis

Most cases of hepatitis B virus–associated glomerulonephritis (HBV‐GN) occur in children and present with serum HBsAg positivity. Few studies have investigated adult patients with HBV‐GN who are serum HBsAg‐negative. This study aimed to determine the clinical and pathological features of adult patients with HBV‐GN who are serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)‐negative. Clinical, pathologic, and laboratory findings were collected and analyzed in a cohort of 27 adult patients with HBV‐GN who were serum HBsAg‐negative upon diagnosis. The study population included mostly men of middle age (40‐59 years). Clinically, patients presented with nephrotic syndrome. Serum immunoglobulin G levels were low, whereas serum immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin A, complement C3 (C3), and complement C4 (C4) levels as well as liver and renal function tests were normal in most or all patients. Among the 27 patients, 21 tested positive for HBV antibodies. Membranous nephropathy was the dominant pathological form on kidney biopsy. In addition, only a few patients showed a “full house” staining pattern and renal immune deposit of complement C1q (C1q). Serum HBsAg‐negative HBV‐GN may represent a late stage of HBV infection. We recommend routine testing for HBV markers on renal biopsy in regions where HBV is prevalent, even when tests for serum HBV markers are negative.     

Anti-C1q in chronic hepatitis C Virus genotype IV infection: association with autoimmune rheumatologic manifestations

A growing body of evidence suggests that anti-complement-1q (anti-C1q) antibodies are elevated in a variety of autoimmune disease. Therefore, we investigated their prevalence and clinical significance in plasma of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype IV in the presence and absence of autoimmune extra hepatic manifestations in comparison to normal healthy individuals. Plasma Anti-C1q Abs levels were assessed by an Enzyme Linked Immunosorbant Assay in 91 chronic HCV-infected patients (51 with and 40 without autoimmune rheumatic manifestations) and 40 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender. Epidemiological, clinical, immunochemical and virological data were prospectively collected. Positive Anti-C1q antibodies were more frequent among HCV patients with extra-hepatic autoimmune involvement, than those without and healthy control subjects. No significant correlations were found between Anti-C1q levels with either the liver activity or the fibrosis scores. In HCV-patients with autoimmune involvements, plasma Anti-C1q levels were significantly higher in patients with positive cryoglobulin, and in those with lymphoma than in those without. These results were confirmed by multivariate analysis. Further large scale longitudinal studies are required to assess and clarify the significance and the pathogenic role of anti-C1q antibodies among HCV infected patients with positive cryoglobulinaemia and lymphoma.     

抗核抗体与抗核抗体谱联合检测在自身免疫性疾病诊断上的应用

目的探讨抗核抗体(antinuclear antibody,ANA)和抗核抗体谱(antinuclear antibodies spectrum,ANAs)联合检测在自身免疫性疾病(autoimmune diseases,AID)诊断上的应用方案及价值,从而降低现症及潜在AID患者的漏检率。方法对1 231份本院门诊和住院疑似AID患者的血清标本分别采用间接免疫荧光法(indirect immunofluorescence,IIF)和免疫印迹法(immumoblottest,IBT)检测ANA和ANAs,对其中IIF-ANA1∶100(-)/IBT-ANAs(+)标本分别进行1∶10及1∶32稀释后采用IIF检测ANA,最后对上述检测结果进行统计分析。结果 1 231份血清标本中ANA阳性414份,占33.63%,ANAs阳性429份,占34.85%。按不同检测方案进行分组,发现同时检测IIF-ANA与IBT-ANAs的方案对确诊/疑似AID病人检出率最高(43.05%),分别与应用IIF-ANA进行AID的初筛的方案、仅检测IBT-ANAs的方案相比均有统计学意义(χ2=23.12,P<0.05,χ2=17.42,P<0.05)。对116份(9.42%)IIF-ANA 1∶100(-)/IBT-ANAs(+)的标本分别进行1∶32及1∶10稀释后再采用IIF检测ANA,发现其中103份标本ANA荧光结果≥1∶32,10份标本ANA荧光结果<1∶32而≥1∶10,3份标本ANA荧光结果<1∶10;将标本增加1∶32和1∶10稀释度可将AID确诊/疑似病例检出率分别提高8.37%(χ2=20.84,P<0.05)与9.18%(χ2=24.70,P<0.05),但二者之间相比则无统计学意义(χ2=0.17,P>0.5)。结论 IIF-ANA可应用于大范围AID病人初筛以减轻病人经济负担及实验室工作量压力。但是仅检测IIF-ANA或IBT-ANAs均可导致临床上患有AID或潜在的AID病人的漏检。联合检测IIF-ANA和IBT-ANAs,尤其是对临床高度怀疑AID、且ANA荧光结果≥1:32的标本进行IBT-ANAs的检测可显著提高检出率,从而降低现症及潜在AID患者的漏检率。     

肾脏疾病患者血清中ANCA的荧光模式及其意义

目的：进一步探讨肾脏疾病患者血清中抗中性粒细胞细胞质抗体(ANCA)的荧光模式及其意义。方法：应用间接免疫荧光(IIF)和ELISA方法检测了251例肾脏疾病患者血清中ANCA及其靶抗原。结果：在251例肾脏疾病患者中，ANCA阳性51例占20．3％，其中10例为cANCA阳性(10／251)；30例为cANCA阳性(30／251);11例为aANCA阳性(11／251)。结论：同时用IIF法和ELISA法检测ANCA，可以提高ANCA检出的阳性率；不同ANCA荧光模式与疾病的种类病情及预后密切相关；提高对不典型ANCA和pANCA伴ANA荧光模式的鉴别，有助于临床对血管炎和其它自身免疫性疾病的诊断。     

自身免疫肝病患者抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体的检测及临床意义

探讨抗中性粒细胞胞浆抗体(anti-neutrophil cytoplastic antibodies,ANCA)对自身免疫肝病的临床意义。应用间接免疫荧光法和斑点法检测149例自身免疫性肝病患者[自身免疫性肝炎(autoimmune hepatitis,AIH)患者57例,原发性胆汁性肝硬化(primary biliary cirrhosis,PBC)患者42例,不明原因肝损患者50例]的ANCA和抗可提取性核抗原抗体(extract-able nuclear antigen,ENA),进而用ELISA法分析60例ANCA阳性的自身免疫肝病患者的ANCA抗原谱。以200例健康献血员为正常对照。结果ANCA在AIH、PBC、不明原因肝损中的阳性率分别为81%、40%、30%,其中非典型性pANCA的阳性率依次为70%、40%、28%。AIH组与PBC组及AIH组与不明原因肝损组间非典型性pANCA的阳性率有显著性差异(P<0.01),但PBC组与不明原因肝损组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。各疾病组ANCA抗原谱如下:AIH组中,乳铁蛋白3%阳性,MPO 11%阳性,组织蛋白酶G和BPI的阳性率分别为11%、17%;PBC组中,弹性蛋白酶和组织蛋白酶G阳性率均为5%,BPI的阳性率为16%;不明原因肝损组中,BPI阳性率为17%。大多数自身免疫性肝病患者非典型性pANCA为阳性(28%~70%),且伴有特征性自身抗体。注重非典型性pANCA的检测对明确诊断自身免疫肝病及其分类有很大的帮助。     

Association of Sperm Antibodies With Other Autoantibodies in Infertile Men

PROBLEM: In many autoimmune diseases there is an increased incidence of other autoantibodies. However, the incidence of other autoantibodies in patients with seminal sperm antibodies is unknown. The most widely used tests to detect seminal and serum sperm antibodies are the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR) and the Tray agglutination test (TAT). METHOD: We therefore determined the incidence of antinuclear, antimitochondrial, thyroid peroxidase, and thyroglobulin antibodies, and rheumatoid factor in 147 patients investigated with MAR and 157 patients investigated with TAT. RESULTS: TAT positive patients had a significantly elevated incidence of antinuclear antibodies (χ² test, P < 0.005) and thyroglobulin antibodies (χ² test, P < 0.001). Thyroglobulin antibodies were increased in patients with MAR IgG > 40% and also significantly (χ² test, P < 0.05) increased in MAR IgA positive patients. Furthermore, thyroid peroxidase antibodies were only found in TAT positive patients. CONCLUSIONS: The consistently increased incidence of thyroid autoantibodies in infertile patients with sperm antibodies may indicate an increased risk for the development of autoimmune thyroid disease. This finding therefore suggests screening of patients with immunologic infertility for autoimmune thyroid disease and a further evaluation of the prognostic and pathophysiologic significance of thyroid autoantibodies in immunologic infertility.     

ANA testing in the presence of acute and chronic infections

Autoantibody testing is performed to help diagnose patients who have clinical symptoms suggestive of possible autoimmune diseases. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present in many systemic autoimmune conditions such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, a positive ANA test may also be seen with non-autoimmune inflammatory diseases, including both acute and chronic infections. When the ANA test is used as an initial screen in patients with non-specific clinical symptoms, such as fever, joint pain, myalgias, fatigue, rash, or anemia, the likelihood of a positive result due to infection will increase, especially in children. This article identifies acute and chronic infectious diseases that are likely to produce a positive ANA result and summarizes recent literature addressing both the causes and consequences of these findings.     

Occult HBV infection in patients with autoimmune hepatitis: A virological and clinical study

Background/PurposeOccult HBV infection (OBI) could have serious clinical consequences in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of OBI in Chinese patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and to analyze its clinical and virological features.Methods103 AIH cases were enrolled. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) serological markers were screened by chemiluminescence. HBV-DNA were detected by nest-PCR and real-time PCR. HBV genotyping and mutation analysis were performed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsTwenty-four out of 103 (23.30%) AIH patients had OBI as evidenced by positive HBV-DNA and negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). HBV genotype C is the predominant genotype (57.89%), which had more amino acid (AA) substitutions in S region than that of B-genotype group (P = 0.001). The distribution of AA substitution in the ‘α’ determinant region between genotype C and B were significantly different (P = 0.042). In addition to those already reported OBI-associated AA substitutions (e.g., sG145R and sV184A), some new OBI-associated AA substitutions (e.g., sV106A, sC137* and sL176P) were found in AIH patients in our study. Three out of 24 (12.50%) OBI patients were diagnosed as decompensated cirrhosis, one patient with S deletion mutation and two patients with HBV extensive AA substitutions.ConclusionsThere was a higher proportion of AIH patients with OBI than the general population in China, which can be either seropositive or seronegative-OBI in AIH patients is associated with some specific AA substitutions. The presence of deletion mutations and the extent of AA substitutions in the HBV S region may have predictive clinical implications.     

Anti-extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENA) Antibodies in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C before and after Treatment with Interferon

A high prevalence of serological markers classically associated with autoimmune hepatitis or other autoimmune diseases has been reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the prevalence of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA) are rarely reported in such patients and the effect of treatment with interferon (IFN) on their prevalence is not known. In the present study, serum samples collected from 44 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 44 patients with non-hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected liver diseases were tested for anti-ENAs (U1 RNP, Sm, Ro/SS-A, La/SS-B and Scl-70) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In 26 patients with chronic hepatitis C who received IFN treatment, serum samples were also collected just after completion of IFN treatment, and/or at 6–40 months after completion of the treatment, and tested for these antibodies. Sixteen (36%) of 44 sera from patients with chronic hepatitis C were positive for at least one of the above anti-ENA antibodies, whereas only 7 (16%) of 44 sera from patients with non-HCV infected liver diseases were positive for such antibodies (p=0.0290). There was no significant difference in the prevalence of each of anti-ENA antibody between men and women. Results of anti-ENA antibodies in most IFN-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C did not change after treatment. However, in some cases serum anti-U1 RNP, anti-La/SS-B and anti-Scl-70 became negative or converted to the gray zone after completion of IFN treatment regardless of HCV elimination. Our results showed that the overall prevalence of anti-ENA antibodies was significantly higher in patients with chronic hepatitis C than in those with non-HCV-infected liver diseases. However, the disappearance of anti-ENA antibodies after IFN treatment in patients with chronic hepatitis C may be due to the immunomodulating effects of IFN rather than HCV elimination.     

Clinical features of anti-chromo antibodies associated with anti-centromere antibodies

Anti-chromo antibodies (AChA) are autoantibodies accompanying anti-centromere antibodies (ACA). We determined the frequency and clinical significance of AChA in autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Serum samples from 252 patients with rheumatic diseases were examined by immunoblotting with HeLa nuclear extract and with recombinant N-terminus of 25-kD chromo protein (p25). AChA were detected in 28 (36%) of 77 sera with ACA. AChA were found only in ACA-positive sera. Twenty-two (79%) of 28 recognized a recombinant N-terminal portion of p25, including the chromo domain which is conserved among species. AChA were related to leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and existence of Sjögren*s syndrome (SS). In ACA-positive patients, AChA might be a serologic indicator of systemic sclerosis (SSc), having features of systemic lupus erythematosus and/or SS or diseases other than SSc.     

Polymorphism of TLR5 rs5744174 is associated with disease progression in Chinese patients with chronic HBV infection

Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in innate and adaptive immunity, protecting the host from viral pathogens. Studies have implicated that TLR5 is associated with various diseases such as autoimmune and inflammation related diseases. However, little is known about the relationship between TLR5 and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. We studied the effect of TLR5 gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to and disease progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection in Chinese. Blood samples were taken from 636 patients with CHB, HBV‐related liver cirrhosis (LC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 273 controls. Polymorphisms of TLR5 (1775A>G rs2072493 and 1846T>C rs5744174) were analyzed by PCR‐based sequencing. No difference in genotypic and allelic frequencies of TLR5 rs2072493 and rs5744174 was observed between patients and controls. Significant difference was found in frequency of TLR5 rs5744174 TT genotype between men with CHB and LC (p = 0.035). Frequency of TT genotype of TLR5 rs5744174 in patients positive for HBeAg was increased from 53.2% in patients with CHB to 74.1% in those with HCC (p = 0.024). Our results indicate that in Chinese genetic variation of TLR5 may be not a determinant of susceptibility to HBV‐related diseases but may play a role in development of HBV‐related severe liver diseases.     

Factors associated with the antinuclear antibody (ANA) titer of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases in ANA-positive patients after treatment: a retrospective study

Antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) are a serological hallmark of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs); however, few studies have investigated their post-treatment levels. The mechanism by which ANA titers are upregulated in SARDs remains unclear. We assessed factors associated with the ANA titer after treatment. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the clinical database of Zhongshan Hospital, Medical College of Xiamen. Demographic data and baseline and 12-month post-treatment ANA titers were collected. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with the ANA titer. This study identified 31,923 patients who underwent ANA assay for SARDs screening, and a total of 1043 patients were included in the study. Approximately 16% of the patients showed a decrease in the serological ANA titer. Younger patients (<?20) were 3?×?more likely to experience such a decrease (P?=?0.005) compared to older patients (≥?60 years). Having a baseline ANA titer?>?1:10,000 was associated with an increase likelihood of a decrease in the serological ANA titer compared with baseline ANA titer 1:10,000, 1:3200 and 1:1000 (P?<?0.001). We found that a decrease in the serum ANA titer at 12 months after treatment for SARDs is associated with age and ANA baseline titers.

     

多种自身抗体联合检测对自身免疫性肝病的诊断价值

目的：分析各种肝病患者多种自身抗体的检出率,探讨其对自身免疫性肝病（autoimmune liver diseases,ALD）的诊断价值。方法：根据临床诊断将患者分为ALD组（n=96）、病毒性肝炎组（n=135,包括75例乙型肝炎,65例丙型肝炎）,另取62例健康体检者作为健康对照组（n=62）;其中,ALD组又分为自身免疫性肝炎组（AIH组,n=36）、原发性胆汁性肝硬化组（PBC组,n=58）、原发性硬化性胆管炎组（PSC组,n=2）。用间接免疫荧光法检测上述各组的抗核抗体（antinuclear antibodies,ANA）、抗平滑肌抗体（anti-smooth muscle antibodies,ASMA）、抗线粒体抗体（antimitochondrial ant-ibodies,AMA）;用Western印迹法检测抗肝肾微粒体Ⅰ型抗体（anti liver-kidney microsomal antibody Type 1,LKM-1）和抗线粒体Ⅱ型抗体（subtype of AMA,AMA-M2）、抗可溶性肝抗原/胰抗原抗体（soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas,SLA/LP）、抗肝细胞溶质抗原Ⅰ型抗体（antihepatocyte cytosol antigen Type 1,LC-1）。结果：AIH组ANA阳性率（69.4%）和PBC组ANA阳性率（87.9%）显著高于病毒性肝炎组（37.3%）和健康对照组（4.8%）（均P〈0.01）;AIH组ASMA,LKM-1,SLA/LP,LC-1阳性率（44.4%,11.1%,2.8%,8.3%）显著高于病毒性肝炎组（1.3%,1.7%,0,0）和健康对照组（均P〈0.01）;PBC组AMA-M2阳性率（91.3%）显著高于病毒性肝炎组（1.3%）和健康对照组（0）（均P〈0.01）。结论：联合检测ANA,ASMA,LKM-1,SLA/LP,LC-1和AMA-M2等自身抗体可提高ALD诊断的灵敏性和特异性,且对ALD分型、诊疗具有重要意义。     

Relationship between natural and infection‐induced antibodies in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD): SLE,SSc and RA

Infection or vaccine‐induced T cell‐dependent immune response and the subsequent high‐affinity neutralizing antibody production have been extensively studied, while the connection between natural autoantibodies (nAAbs) and disease‐specific antibodies has not been thoroughly investigated. Our goal was to find the relationship between immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG isotype nAAbs and infection or vaccine‐induced and disease‐related autoantibody levels in systemic autoimmune diseases (SAD). A previously described indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test was used for detection of IgM/IgG nAAbs against citrate synthase (anti‐CS) and F4 fragment (anti‐F4) of DNA topoisomerase I in 374 SAD samples, with a special focus on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 92), rheumatoid arthritis (n = 73) and systemic sclerosis (n = 157) disease groups. Anti‐measles IgG and anti‐dsDNA IgG/IgM autoantibodies were measured using commercial and in‐house indirect ELISA tests. In all SAD groups the anti‐measles IgG‐seropositive cases showed significantly higher anti‐CS IgG titers (P = 0·011). In anti‐dsDNA IgG‐positive SLE patients, we detected significantly higher levels of anti‐CS and anti‐F4 IgG nAAbs (P = 0·001 and < 0·001, respectively). Additionally, we found increased levels of IgM isotypes of anti‐CS and anti‐F4 nAAbs in anti‐dsDNA IgM‐positive SLE patients (P = 0·002 and 0·016, respectively). The association between IgG isotypes of pathogen‐ or autoimmune disease‐related antibodies and the IgG nAAbs may underscore the immune response‐inducible nature of the diseases investigated. The relationship between protective anti‐dsDNA IgM and the IgM isotype of anti‐F4 and anti‐CS may provide immunoserological evidence for the beneficial roles of nAAbs in SLE patients.     

Clinical course and core variability in HBV infected patients without detectable anti-HBc antibodies

BackgroundThe presence of anti-HBc antibodies indicates direct encounter of the immune system with hepatitis B virus (HBV).ObjectivesAim of our study was to seek for anti-HBc negative but HBV replicating patients and analyze their clinical course and preconditions.Study designFrom 1568 HBV-DNA positive patients, 29 patients (1.85%) tested negative for anti-HBc. The absence of anti-HBc could be confirmed in 19 patients using an alternative assay. In 16 of 19 cases, a partial or full HBV genome analysis was performed with NGS sequencing to evaluate if specific mutations were associated with anti-HBc absence. As a control group samples from 32 matched HBV infected patients with detectable anti-HBc were sequenced.ResultsPatients with detectable HBV-DNA and sequenced HBV core region in the confirmed absence of anti-HBc were diagnosed with acute HBV infection (n = 3), HBV reactivation (n = 9) and chronic hepatitis B (n = 4). Most patients (12/16) were immunosuppressed: 3/16 patients had an HIV coinfection, 7/16 patients suffered from a malignant disease and 4/16 patients underwent solid organ transplantation (from which 2/4 had a malignant disease). Compared to the control cohort, HBV variants from anti-HBc negative patients showed less variability in the core region.ConclusionsIn the absence of anti-HBc, HBV-DNA was most often found in immunocompromised hosts. Distinct mutations or deletions in the core region did not explain anti-HBc negativity. It would be advisable not to rely only on a single result of anti-HBc negativity to exclude HBV infection in immunocompromised hosts, but to measure anti-HBc repeatedly or with different methods     

High prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among intravenous drug users in Korea

Although intravenous drug users are a well-known route of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission, there is no data on the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among intravenous drug users in Korea. In order to describe the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection, and to determine HCV genotypes in the population, serum samples were collected from 107 intravenous drug users during 2005-2006. Fifty-seven percent (n = 61) were HCV RNA positive and 51% (n = 55) were HBV DNA positive. Co-infection of HBV and HCV were found in 23% (n = 25). HCV genotypes 1b, 2a/2c, 2, 2b, and 3a were found in 38% (n = 23), 44% (n = 27), 8% (n = 5), 2% (n = 1), and 3% (n = 2), respectively. Moreover, mixed infections of genotypes 1b and 2a/2c were found in 5% (n = 3). When the number of patients with HCV genotype 1b compared with that of patients with genotype 2a/2c, HBV DNA titer was not significantly different by independent t-test (t = -0.881, P = 0.392 > 0.05) between the two patient groups. These results suggest that the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among intravenous drug users is high showing over 50% in Korea and a strategic prevention program should be performed in this group to prevent further infection into local community.     

Occult hepatitis B infection in patients infected with HIV: Report of two cases of hepatitis B reactivation and prevalence in a hospital cohort

Patients co‐infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are particularly at risk of hepatitis B reactivation. Two cases of patients infected with HIV with isolated anti‐HBc antibodies who had experienced an HBV reactivation are described. In the two cases HBV reactivation occurred after withdrawal of anti‐retroviral treatment with anti‐HBV activity from the patients' highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in accordance with HIV genotypic resistance profiles. Consequently, plasma samples from 383 patients infected with HIV were tested to assess the prevalence of occult HBV infection in the Infectious Diseases Department Unit of Nancy Hospital by investigating serological patterns and HBV replication. Forty‐five percent (172/383) of patients had had previous contact with HBV. Isolated anti‐HBc antibodies were observed in 48 patients (48/383, 12%) and, among these, 2 were HBV‐DNA positive. Since 75% (288/383) of the patients were treated with HAART, including at least one drug active against HBV, occult HBV infection was perhaps unrecognized. In cases of HIV infection, all patients should be screened for HBV infection and the knowledge of HBV status as well as the monitoring of HBV viral load are essential in preventing HBV reactivation. Consideration should be given to the continuation of drugs with anti‐HBV activity in co‐infected patients receiving HAART, as cessation of therapy is associated with a risk of HBV reactivation. At least, close monitoring of the HBV viral load is warranted in such situations. J. Med. Virol. 82:206–212, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.