Occult HBV infection in HCC and cirrhotic tissue of HBsAg-negative patients: a virological and clinical study.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

To evaluate the virological and clinical characteristics of occult HBV infection (OBI) in 68 consecutive HBsAg-negative patients with biopsy-proven cirrhosis and HCC.

Methods

HBV DNA was sought and sequenced in plasma, HCC tissue and non-HCC liver tissue by PCRs using primers for HBV core, surface and x regions. OBI was identified by the presence of HBV DNA in at least two different PCRs.

Results

OBI was detected in HCC tissue of 13 (20%) patients and in non-HCC liver tissue of 3 of these 13. OBI was detected in HCC tissue of 54.5% of 11 anti-HBs- negative/anti-HBc-positive patients, in 29.4% of 17 anti-HBs/anti-HBc-positive and in 5% of 40 anti-HBs/anti-HBc-negative (p < 0.0005). The 13 patients with OBI in HCC tissue more frequently than the 55 without showed Ch

SUBMITTER: Coppola N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5308760 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature