Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients with Hepatitis B Patients with Atypical Serologic Profiles

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate atypical serological profiles in patients diagnosed and followed up with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to clinically evaluate patients with those have atypical profiles. Materials and Methods: This study was a single-centre, retrospective cross-sectional cohort study. Six thousand five hundred and sixty-four hospital applications were evaluated. We reviewed 3,372 patient records, of which 145 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Of the 3,372 patients followed up for HBV infection, 2,072 (61.4%) were male, and the mean age was 50.3±13.6 years. Data from 145 patients with atypical HBV serology were analyzed. Eighty-six (59.3%) of the patients were male. The mean age was 49.2±13.6 years. The prevalence of simultaneous positivity for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs (group 1), dual positivity for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and anti-HBe (group 2), isolated positivity for anti-HBc-IgG (group 3) and isolated HBsAg positivity were found 2.13% (71/3,327), 1.47% (49/3,327), 0.75% (25/3,327) and 0.03% (1/3,327), respectively. Concomitant hypertension was more common in group 1; younger age, elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HBV-DNA levels and treatment with antiviral drugs were more common in group 2; comorbidities (p=0.07), and hematologic diseases were more common, HBVDNA levels were negative and treatment with antiviral drugs were less in group 3. Conclusion: Groups 1 and 2 cases had higher ALT and HBVDNA levels and are at risk for developing cirrhosis, progressive liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Patients with isolated anti-HBc-IgG should be treated when the risk of HBV reactivation exists.