Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with leprosy

• Published in: Journal of medical virology 2019-05, Vol.91 (5), p.775-780
• Main Authors: Costa, Joanne E. F., Morais, Viviane M. S., Gonçales, Juliana P., Medeiros, Ana Anizia D. P., Barroso, Haline, Compri, Adriana P., Fukasawa, Lucila, Moreira, Regina C., Coêlho, Maria Rosângela C. D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil - epidemiology; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data analysis; Data processing; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA, Viral - blood; Female; Hepatitis; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B - epidemiology; Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood; Hepatitis B surface antigen; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - blood; hepatitis B virus; hepatitis B virus DNA; Humans; Immune system; Infections; Leprosy; Leprosy - complications; leprosy reaction; Male; Middle Aged; occult hepatitis B virus infection; Patients; Polymerase chain reaction; Prevalence; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; Serology; Viral Load; Virology; Viruses; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25374

Leprosy patients may present with immune system impairment and have a higher hepatitis B virus (HBV) seroprevalence, justifying the investigation of occult HBV infection in these individuals. The aim of this study was to verify the frequency and the clinical factors associated with occult HBV infection in leprosy patients. Between 2015 and 2016, leprosy patients from a reference center in Brazil were interviewed to assess clinical data. Blood samples were collected for the screening of HBV serological markers using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Patients with negative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) that had positive anti‐HBc and/or anti‐HBs were selected for HBV DNA detection using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. SPSS was used for data analysis. Among 114 selected patients, six were identified with occult infection (5.3%) and five of them with multibacillary leprosy. Three patients with occult infection had a history of a type 2 reaction (P = 0.072; OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 0.87‐28.52). Only two patients with occult infection had isolated anti‐HBc, while three had isolated anti‐HBs, including those with the highest HBV DNA titers. In conclusion, in leprosy patients with negative HBsAg and positive anti‐HBc and/or anti‐HBs, occult HBV infection occurs in 5.3% and can be found even in patients with isolated anti‐HBs. Occult hepatitis B virus infection frequency in leprosy patients was 5.3% (06/144); Three leprosy patients (03/06) with occult infection had a history of a type 2 reaction; The highest levels of HBV DNA were detected in leprosy patients with isolated anti‐HBs.