Serological pattern “anti-HBc alone”:Characterization of 552 individuals and clinical significance

AIM： To investigate the prevalence and clinical significance of ＂anti-HBc alone＂ in an unselected population of patients and employees of a university hospital in southern Germany. METHODS： All individuals with the pattern ＂anti-HBc alone＂ were registered over a time span of 82 mo. HBVDNA was measured in serum and liver samples, and clinical charts were reviewed. RESULTS： Five hundred and fifty two individuals were ＂anti-HBc alone＂ （of 3004 anti-HBc positive individuals; 18.4%）, and this pattern affected males （20.5%） more often than females （15.3%; P〈0.001）. HBV-DNA was detected in serum of 44 of 545 ＂anti-HBc alone＂ individuals （8.1%）, and in paraffin embedded liver tissue in 16 of 39 patients tested （41.0%）. There was no association between the detection of HBV genomes and the presence of biochemical, ultrasonic or histological signs of liver damage. Thirty-eight ＂anti-HBc alone＂ patients with cirrhosis or primary liver carcinoma had at least one additional risk factor. HCV-coinfection was present in 20.4% of all individuals with ＂anti-HBc alone＂ and was the only factor associated with a worse clinical outcome. CONCLUSION： In an HBV low prevalence area, no evidence is found that HBV alone causes severe liver damage in individuals with ＂anti-HBc alone＂. Recommendations for the management of these individuals are given.

瞄准：调查流行和临床的意义“ anti-HBc 独自一个”在病人的一张 unselected 人口和在南部的德国的一所大学医院的雇员。方法：有模式的所有个人“ anti-HBc 独自一个”在 82 瞬间的时间跨度上被登记。HBV-DNA 在浆液和肝样品被测量，并且临床的图表被考察。结果：五百和 52 个个人是“ anti-HBc 独自一个”(3004 anti-HBc 积极个人；18.4%) ，并且这个模式比女性更经常影响了男性(20.5%)(15.3% ；P<0.001 ) 。HBV-DNA 在 545 中的 44 个的浆液被检测“ anti-HBc 独自一个”个人(8.1%) ，并且在石蜡，在 39 个病人中的 16 个的嵌入的肝织物测试了(41.0%) 。在 HBV 染色体的察觉和肝损坏的生物化学、超声或组织学的符号的存在之间没有协会。38 “ anti-HBc 独自一个”有肝硬化或主要的肝癌的病人有至少一个另外的风险因素。HCV-coinfection 在 20.4% 所有个人与是在场的“ anti-HBc 独自一个”并且唯一的因素与更坏的临床的结果被联系。结论：在一个 HBV 低流行区域，没有证据被发现那 HBV 独自一个在个人引起严重的肝损坏与“ anti-HBc 独自一个”。为这些个人的管理的建议被给。