Prevalence of occult hepatitis B infection in a highly endemic area for chronic hepatitis B: a study of a large blood donor population

• Published in: Gut Vol. 59; no. 10; pp. 1389 - 1393
• Main Authors: Yuen, Man-Fung, Lee, Cheuk-Kwong, Wong, Danny Ka-Ho, Fung, James, Hung, Ivan, Hsu, Axel, But, David Yiu-Kuen, Cheung, Ting-Kin, Chan, Pierre, Yuen, John Chi-Hang, Fung, Frederic Khe-Cheong, Seto, Wai-Kay, Lin, Che-Kit, Lai, Ching-Lung
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology 01.10.2010; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Antigens; Biological and medical sciences; Blood & organ donations; Blood Donors - statistics & numerical data; Blood Transfusion; Blood transfusions; Carrier State - epidemiology; Carrier State - pathology; chronic hepatitis B; Cohort Studies; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA, Viral - analysis; Endemic Diseases; Female; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; HBV DNA; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B virus - isolation & purification; Hepatitis B, Chronic - epidemiology; Hepatitis B, Chronic - pathology; Histology; Hong Kong - epidemiology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunization; Infections; Infectious diseases; Interferon; Liver diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; nucleic acid test; Occult hepatitis B; Occult sciences; Population; Prevalence; Studies; Viral diseases; Viral hepatitis; Young Adult; Hong Kong; Hong Kong China; Asia; Infection; Viral hepatitis B; Prevalence; Viral disease; Gastroenterology; Digestive diseases; Hepatic disease; Epidemiology; Blood donor

Background and aimsThe aim of the present study was to determine the population prevalence of occult hepatitis B (OHB) infection and its clinical profile in a highly endemic area of chronic hepatitis B virus disease.MethodsOHB was first identified by individual sample testing for hepatitis B surface...