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 th...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.展开更多
基金Supported by the University of Regensburg,Germany,HWP grant for Antje Knll
文摘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.
