The Prevalence of Occult Hepatitis B Infection (OBI) in hemodialysis patients referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz in 1399

Abstract

In developing countries, blood-borne viral infections, especially hepatitis B virus (HBV), can be a crucial concern for hemodialysis (HD) units. Regardless of the dominant existence of HBsAg in overt infection, hemodialysis patients are severely at risk of occult HBV infection (OBI). This can be defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the absence of HBsAg in the liver and/or serum. The process can potentially lead to the silent carrier of the virus, chronic liver disease, Liver failure or hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose: Unfortunately, East Azerbaijan's most important medical center in northwestern Iran offers relatively limited information on OBI screening in hemodialysis patients. In the present study, by utilizing serological and molecular techniques, the incidence of OBI in a group of Hemodialysis patients as well as the effects of possible mutations associated with gaining OBI was fully examined. Materials and Methods: In this cross sectional study blood samples were drawn from.118 chronic hemodialysis patients in succession, and serum was assessed for Hepatitis B virus serological markers (HBsAg and HBcAb) employ the enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay (ELISA) method. For examining OBI, the specific primers by nested polymerase chain reaction have been utilized. The quantity of viral load in OBI-positive patients was then determined via Real-time PCR followed by direct sequencing of surface genes. Results: Sample analysis revealed five were positive OBI 4.2% (5/118). The prevalence of Anti-HBc in the study population was 26.3% (31/118). Four of positive OBI were positive for Anti-HBc. Conforming to phylogenetic analysis, the samples with OBI roughly belonged to genotype D. Only two had mutations within the S gene's major hydrophilic region (MHR).