Clinical significance of occult Hepatitis B infection

Definition of occult Hepatitis B infection (OHB) is presence of HBV DNA in the liver (with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals testing HBsAg negative by currently available assays. Several possibilities have been hypothesized as the mechanisms of OHB. The clinical significance of OHB remains vastly unknown. It is considered that OHB can be a risk factor for transmission of the HBV, cryptogenic liver disease, reactivation of the Hepatitis B infection, hepatocellular carcinoma and OHB may affect disease progression and treatment response of chronic hepatitis C. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2015; 14(5.000): 413-420