Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chronic Hepatitis C

Jae Young Jang; Eui Ju Park

doi:10.4166/kjg.2013.62.3.154

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Jang and Park: Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chronic Hepatitis C

Review Article

Korean J Gastroenterol 2013;62(3):154-159.

Published online: 4 October 2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2013.62.3.154

Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chronic Hepatitis C

Jae Young Jang, Eui Ju Park

Institution for Digestive Research, Digestive Disease Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence to: Jae Young Jang, Institute for Digestive Research, Digestive Disease Center, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-887, Korea. Tel: +82-2-709-9202, Fax: +82-2-709-9696, E-mail: jyjang@schmc.ac.kr

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

Occult HBV infection is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver (with or without detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals testing negative for HBsAg. Studies on occult HBV infection in hepatitis C patients have reported highly variable prevalence, because the prevalence of occult HBV infection varies depending on the hepatitis B risk factors and methodological approaches. The most reliable diagnostic approach for detecting occult HBV detection is through examination of liver DNA extracts. HCV has been suspected to strongly suppress HBV replication up to the point where it may be directly responsible for occult HBV infection development. However, more data are needed to arrive at a definitive conclusion regarding the role of HCV in inducing occult HBV infection. Occult HBV infection in chronic hepatitis C patients is a complex biological entity with possible relevant clinical implications. Influence of occult HBV infection on the clinical outcomes of chronic hepatitis C may be considered negative. However, recent studies have shown that occult HBV infection could be associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma and contribute to the worsening of the course of chronic liver disease over time in chronic hepatitis C patients. Nevertheless, the possible role of occult HBV infection in chronic hepatitis C is still unresolved and no firm conclusion has been made up until now. It still remains unclear how occult HBV infection affects the treatment of chronic hepatitis C. Therefore, in order to resolve current controversies and understand the pathogenic role and clinical impacts of occult HBV infection in chronic hepatitis C patients, well-designed clinical studies are needed.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Occult infection, Hepatitis C, chronic

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