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Serum Hepatitis B Virus RNA: A New Potential Biomarker for Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Chronic hepatitis B infection is one of the major etiological causes of liver failure, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) worldwide. This condition cannot be completely cured by currently available drugs due to the persistent existence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), the bona fide transcription template for HBV RNAs, in infected hepatocytes. Because quantifying cccDNA per se requires an invasive procedure, serum biomarkers reflecting intrahepatic cccDNA activity are warranted. Recently, a growing body of research suggests that the circulating HBV …

Characteristics of hepatitis B core antibody level in the natural history of chronic hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to analyze serum antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) level during different immunological phases in the natural history of patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). METHODS: Serum anti-HBc levels in the immune tolerant (IT), immune clearance (IC), low replicative (LR), and HBeAg negative hepatitis (ENH) phases from 634 treatment-naïve CHB patients were measured and compared between phases and with other serum markers. RESULTS: Median serum anti-HBc levels were different between the phases of CHB. Serum anti-HBc level was highest in the ENH phase and lowest in t…

Characterization of the hepatitis B virus DNA detected in urine of chronic hepatitis B patients.

BACKGROUND: Detection of human hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the urine of patients with chronic hepatitis B infection (CHB) has been reported previously, suggesting urine could provide a potential route of horizontal HBV transmission. However, it is not clear whether the HBV DNA detected in urine is indeed full-length, infectious viral DNA. The aim of this study is to assess the potential infectivity of urine from patients with CHB and to correlate HBV DNA detection in urine with clinical parameters, such as serum viral load and HBeAg status. METHODS: Urine from 60 CHB patients with serum vi…

[Hepatitis delta virus replication and the role of the small hepatitis delta protein S-HDAg].

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is a mammalian defective virus. Its genome is a small single-stranded circular RNA of approximately 1,680 nucleotides. To spread, HDV relies on hepatitis B virus envelope proteins that are needed for viral particle assembly and egress. Severe clinical features of HBV-HDV infection include acute fulminant hepatitis and chronic liver fibrosis leading to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. One uniqueness of HDV relies on its genome similarity to viroids, small plant infectious uncoated RNAs. Devoid of viral replicase activity, HDV has to use host DNA-dependant RNA …

Acute hepatitis E mimicking a flare of disease in a patient with chronic autoimmune hepatitis.

Acute hepatitis E is becoming increasingly recognised in Europe with up to 40% of the population in Southern France being exposed to the virus, which is harboured in pigs. Patients with known liver disease may present with acute hepatitis E and present a diagnostic challenge. For example patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who are immunosuppressed and contract hepatitis E may be at increased risk of developing chronicity due to concurrent immunosuppression. Importantly, the diagnosis may be missed with the infection misdiagnosed as an autoimmune flare, and immunosuppression increased by t…

Prevention of transmission of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis in prisoners.

The prevalence of HIV, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and tuberculosis are higher in prisons than in the general population in most countries worldwide. Prisons have emerged as a risk environment for these infections to be further concentrated, amplified, and then transmitted to the community after prisoners are released. In the absence of alternatives to incarceration, prisons and detention facilities could be leveraged to promote primary and secondary prevention strategies for these infections to improve prisoners health and reduce risk throughout incarceration and on release. Effecti…

A Single Lineage of Hepatitis E Virus Causes Both  Outbreaks and Sporadic Hepatitis in Sudan.

Few studies have reported sporadic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections during non-outbreak periods in Africa. In this study, the prevalence of HEV infection in Sudan was investigated in 432 patients with acute hepatitis from 12 localities in North Kordofan, and from 152 patients involved in smaller outbreaks of hepatitis in the neighbouring Darfur. HEV infection was diagnosed in 147 (25%) patients: 98 from Kordofan and 49 from Darfur. The mortality was 10%; six of the patients who died from the infection were pregnant women. HEV RNA was detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reacti…

The yin and yang of hepatitis C: synthesis and decay of hepatitis C virus RNA.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an unusual RNA virus that has a striking capacity to persist for the remaining life of the host in the majority of infected individuals. In order to persist, HCV must balance viral RNA synthesis and decay in infected cells. In this Review, we focus on interactions between the positive-sense RNA genome of HCV and the host RNA-binding proteins and microRNAs, and describe how these interactions influence the competing processes of viral RNA synthesis and decay to achieve stable, long-term persistence of the viral genome. Furthermore, we discuss how these processes affec…

Hepatitis B Virus Reactivation During Successful Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus With Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir.

Treatment of hepatitis C virus with potent, interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral regimens with no activity against hepatitis B virus (HBV) may increase the risk for HBV reactivation in coinfected patients. We present 2 cases of HBV reactivation during treatment with an all-oral regimen of simeprevir and sofosbuvir and discuss strategies to prevent HBV flare.

Acute viral hepatitis presenting as cytomegalovirus, hepatitis E and Epstein-Barr virus IgM antibody positive.

We report a case of acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection with positive HEV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) serology. No patients have been reported positive for immunoglobulin (Ig)M antibodies to all three viruses. This patient had progressively increasing titres of IgM antibody for CMV, HEV and EBV. Only CMV DNA was detectable before antiviral treatment. After antiviral treatment, the patient recovered completely. At day 180 the CMV IgG test had converted to positive with CMV IgM (+), EBV IgM (-) and HEV IgM (-). Our report indicates that dependence upon serology alone is unreliable in the diag

Serum IL-21 levels associated with chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis B-related liver failure.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of interleukin (IL)-21 in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. IL-21 stimulates T and B cell responses and plays a role in the control of chronic viral infections. Serum IL-21 levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay in 109 patients with chronic HBV infection at various clinical stages, as well as in 19 healthy controls (HCs). The proportion of T cells producing IL-21 in the peripheral blood was assessed by intracellular cytokine staining and flow cytometry. Mean serum IL-21 levels in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and t…

Epidemiology of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in pregnant women in Sana'a, Yemen.

BACKGROUND: Screening for Hepatitis B and C during pregnancy may help to decide on appropriate antiviral therapy and the institution of steps to minimize vertical transmission to the newborn infants. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during November-December 2011 to investigate the seroprevalence and associated risk factors for markers of HBV (hepatitis B surface antigen; HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibody among pregnant women at the Al-Thawra hospital in Sana'a, Yemen. Structured questionnaires were used to obtain sociodemographic obstetrics and medical data and sera were tested for H…

Seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections in uttarakhand, India.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are a serious global public health problem affecting billions of people. A population based serological survey was conducted in Uttarakhand, India to determine the prevalence and risk factors of HBV and HCV infections. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted to achieve the primary objective of estimating the prevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV seropositivity and to estimate the potential risk factors. RESULTS: A total of 495 volunteers completed the study questionnaire and underwent blood tests for HBsAg …

Window period of anti-hepatitis A virus immunoglobulin M antibodies in diagnosing acute hepatitis A.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection is made on the basis of the presence of anti-HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies in patients with clinical features of acute hepatitis. Some patients show a negative serology at initial presentation, which may complicate the diagnosis of hepatitis A (HA). The aim of this study was to examine the characteristics of HA patients with an initially negative anti-HAV IgM test result. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis who underwent IgM anti-HAV testing at a single center were enrolled consecutively,…

Occult hepatitis B virus infection as a cause of posttransfusion hepatitis in patients with cancers.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is increased in patients of cancer with increased mortality. Multiple transfusions of blood and blood-related products are a potential source. AIMS: This study aims to assess the incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroconversion in cancer patients receiving transfusion of blood or blood-related products and identify possible reasons for infection in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Patients of cancer receiving blood products, who were HBsAg-, anti-hepatitis B core (HBc)-, and HBV DNA-negative prior to transfusion,…

Острая обострение хронического гепатита В: дилемма дифференциации от острого вирусного гепатита В.

В эндемических странах широко распространены случаи заболевания хроническим гепатитом В. Острая эскалация хронического вируса гепатита В (CHB-AE), вызывающая нарушение функций печени, может наблюдаться вспышкой ГБВ на этапе иммунной очистки или как возобновление ГБВ у пациентов с неактивной или разрешённой ГБВ-инфекцией. Несмотря на то, что восстановление ГБВ обычно наблюдается у пациентов с положительной реакцией на ГБСГ, оно все чаще признается у пациентов с, как представляется, устоявшейся инфекцией ГБВ, у которых нет ГБсага в сыворотке, но антитела от ИгГ в ядре антигена (антиГБц) в сыворо

Совпадение в аннотации оригинала
Exacerbations of chronic hepatitis B are common in endemic countries. Acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB-AE) causing derangement of liver functions may be seen in a flare of HBV in immune clearance phase or as a reactivation of HBV in patients with inactive or resolved HBV infection. While reactivation of HBV is usually seen in HBsAg positi…

[Primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome in a patient with chronic hepatitis B infection].

We describe the case of a female patient with a previous diagnosis of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and chronic hepatitis B in inactive phase who developed increased transaminase levels with no evidence of hepatitis B virus reactivation while receiving ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. A liver biopsy showed changes compatible with overlapping autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Budesonide treatment achieved normalization of transaminase levels. We provide a review of PBC and AIH overlap syndrome and discuss the particular features of this case that led us to this diagnosis, as well as the treatment pr…

Association between S21 substitution in the core protein of hepatitis B virus and fulminant hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: The viral factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV), such as genotypes and mutations, were reported to affect the development of fulminant hepatitis B (FHB), but the mechanism is still unclear. OBJECTIVES: To investigate HBV mutations associated with FHB, especially in the subgenotype B1/Bj HBV (HBV/B1), which are known to cause FHB frequently in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 96 serum samples from acute self-limited hepatitis B (AHB) patients and 13 samples from FHB patients were used for full-genome/partial sequencing. A total of 107 chronic infection patients with HBV were also exam…

[Autochthonous hepatitis E-virus infection as cause of acute hepatitis in Germany - a case report].

There is an increasing body of evidence that hepatitis E virus (HEV) triggers acute hepatitis not only in tropical and subtropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America with low sanitary standards but also in highly industrialized countries. We here report on two patients from Thuringia (Germany) with a HEV infection without a recent stay abroad. All other common causes of hepatitis were excluded. Transaminases were significantly increased in both cases, while icterus could be proven in one patient, only. Both patients fully recovered in the long-term course. Epidemiological and phylogenetic da…

Predictors of hepatitis knowledge improvement among methadone maintained clients enrolled in a hepatitis intervention program.

This randomized, controlled study (n = 256) was conducted to compare three interventions designed to promote hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination completion, among clients undergoing methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) in Los Angeles and Santa Monica. The participants were randomized into three groups: Motivational Interviewing-Single Session (MI-Single), Motivational Interviewing-Group (MI-Group), or Nurse-Led Hepatitis Health Promotion (HHP). All three treatment groups received the 3-series HAV/HBV vaccine. The MI sessions were provided by trained therapists, the…