Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Variants in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

In this chapter we discuss the global epidemiology of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the general population and compare the data with those from populations at higher risk for hepatitis B infection, as hemodialysis patients. We discuss disease burden, HBV genotype distribution, and patterns of HBV transmission in the general population and among hemodialysis patients. We focus on the importance of detecting occult HBV infection in hemodialysis. Finally, we compare HBV variants detected in the general population with those detected by nosocomial transmission in hemodialysis units.