Signature of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in nails and hair.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is detected in extrahepatic tissues of individuals with HBV infection. Whether nails and hair contain HBV has been unknown.

Methods

We examined two patient groups: those with chronic HBV infection alone (n = 71), and those with both chronic HBV and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infections (n = 15). HBV DNA in the patients' fingernails and hair were measured by real-time PCR. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) of fingernails was evaluated by an enzyme immunoassay. HDV RNA in fingernails was measured by real-time PCR. Immunochemical staining was performed on nails. We used chimeric mice with humanized livers to evaluate the infectivity of nails.

Results

Of the 71 pairs of HBV-alone nail and hair samples, 70 (99%) nail and 60 (85%) hair

SUBMITTER: Komatsu H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9066816 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature