Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients in Panje-Azar Hospital, Gorgan

Background and objectives: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major healthproblem in worldwide. The prevalence of Occult and chronic HBV inhemodialysis patients is higher than standard in developing countries. Peoplewith occult HBV are negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) but positive forHBV-DNA. We aimed to evaluate occult hepatitis B infection in patients underhemodialysis in Panje-Azar hospital in Gorgan.Material and Methods: In this study, taken place from 2009 to 2010, theparticipants were 100 hemodialysis patients with administration of completeHBV vaccination with negative test for HBsAg. After preparing 10 milliliterblood sample, HBV DNA testing was performed by polymerase chain reaction(PCR).Result: The mean age of the patients is 54.60 years. They are male (48%) andfemale (52%). They have been under hemodialysis for 48 months, averagely.There has not been any HBV-DNA in HBsAg negative patients underhemodialysis. The rate of occult hepatitis B infection in these end stage renaldisease (ESRD) patients was zero.Conclusion: Results indicate that there is no any occult HBV infection in ESRDpatients under hemodialysis in Gorgan, which is similar to some studies. Theresults could be justified by complete vaccination of the patients.Key words: Occult Hepatitis B, Hemodialysis, HBsAg, Gorgan