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Double hepatitis B virus infection in a patient with HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfection and ‘anti-HBc alone’ as serological pattern

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Abstract

Reported here is a case of double hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in an HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)-coinfected patient with antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen as the only serological marker (anti-HBc alone). Two different HBV genotypes were identified in this patient. A search of the medical literature indicated this report is the first to describe a multiple silent HBV infection in an HIV/HCV-coinfected-patient. The elevated incidence of the anti-HBc alone pattern in HIV-positive patients and the increasing number of silent HBV infections detected in those patients demonstrate the need to carefully examine HIV-positive patients for occult HBV infection. In addition, it appears necessary to thoroughly study such patients in order to evaluate the impact of mixed HBV infection and triple HIV/HCV/HBV infection on morbidity.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the technicians of the virological department of the CHU Dupuytren, Limoges for their excellent technical assistance. Special thanks are extended to F. Zoulim for critical reading of the manuscript and to J. Moreau for linguistic advice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology–Virology–Hygiene, Teaching Hospital CHU Dupuytren, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges Cedex, France

    A. A. Wagner, F. Denis & S. Alain

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Teaching Hospital CHU Dupuytren, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges Cedex, France

    V. Loustaud-Ratti

  3. U271 INSERM, 151 cours Albert Thomas, 69424, Lyon Cedex 03, France

    I. Chemin

  4. Department of Infectious Diseases, Teaching Hospital CHU Dupuytren, 2 avenue Martin Luther King, 87042, Limoges Cedex, France

    P. Weinbreck

Authors
  1. A. A. Wagner
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  2. V. Loustaud-Ratti
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  3. I. Chemin
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  4. P. Weinbreck
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  5. F. Denis
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  6. S. Alain
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Correspondence to S. Alain.

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Wagner, A.A., Loustaud-Ratti, V., Chemin, I. et al. Double hepatitis B virus infection in a patient with HIV/hepatitis C virus coinfection and ‘anti-HBc alone’ as serological pattern. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 24, 623–627 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-0010-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-0010-1

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