Transfusion-transmitted infections including hepatitis B virus (HBV) have been a major public health concern worldwide. Occult HBV infection (OBI) is defined as the presence of HBV DNA in the liver (with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals who tested nega-
tive for HBsAg. Clinically, OBI is considered a risk for viral reactivation and possible transmission of infection among individuals. It also contributes to liver disease progression and development of hepatocellular  carcinoma.  Better  knowledge  and  strategies  to  prevent,  diagnose  and  manage  must be  implemented  in  this  field.  The  aim  of  this  study  was  to  estimate  the  prevalence  of  OBI  among multi-transfused patients in the northern districts of the occupied Palestinian territories. A prospec-
tive cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from August 2016 to May 2017 on 169 who were  negative  for  HBsAg  and  received  more  than  10  units  of  packed  RBCs throughout  their  lives were included in the study. Blood samples were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc by ELI-
SA.  Those  positive  to  anti-HBc  were  then  retested  for  HBV  DNA,  using  an  automated  real-time PCR method. Among the 169 HBsAg- negative sera, anti-HBc was detected in 35 patients (20.7%). All  anti-HBc-positive  patients  were  HBV  DNA-negative,  and  27  (77.1%)  of  them  were  anti-HBs-
positive. Based on our results, it seems that there were no cases of OBI among poly-transfused pa-
tients  with  thalassemia  and  sickle  cell  anemia.  However,  to  improve  decisions  concerning  OBI screening,  especially  in  transfusion  centers,  more  original  studies  with  more  precise  laboratory techniques and larger sample sizes are needed.
 

العنوان

Palestinian Medical and Pharmaceutical Journal (PMPJ).

الناشر

An-Najah National University

بلد الناشر

فلسطين

Indexing

Scopus

معامل التأثير

None

نوع المنشور

Both (Printed and Online)

المجلد

5

السنة

2020

الصفحات

10