Isolated anti-HBc among HIV-infected patients in Istanbul, Turkey

Isolated antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) is frequent in HIV-infected patients, and it may be a marker of occult hepatitis B. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of isolated anti-HBc among HIV-infected patients in Turkey, which is classified as an intermediate HBV, low HIV endemic region.

HIV/AIDS patients followed by the Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology Outpatient Clinic of Haseki Training and Research Hospital between January 2006 and March 2011 were included in this study. Medical records were reviewed to determine the prevalence of isolated anti-HBc and to identify the risk factors associated with isolated anti-HBc. The frequency of isolated anti-HBc in 209 HIV-infected patients was compared with 83 volunteer blood donors.

Of 209 HIV-infected patients, 40 subjects (19.1%) had isolated anti-HBc compared with control group, which consisted of 83 volunteer blood donors who had similar age (P = .13) and sex (P = .29). In the control group, only 2 (2.4%) had isolated anti-HBc. Isolated anti-HBc was significantly more frequent in HIV-infected patients (P < .001). The characteristics such as age, gender, injecting drug use, anti-HCV seropositivity, and CD4 cell counts were not significantly different between HIV-infected patients with or without isolated anti-HBc. Only 3 (7.5%) of HIV-infected patients had occult infection.

Prevalence of isolated anti-HBc in Turkish HIV-infected patients was 19.1%, which was significantly more frequent than in blood donors. Isolated anti-HBc could be associated with occult infection. Thus, all HIV-infected patients should be screened for anti-HBc before starting antiretroviral therapy.