TY - JOUR AU - Komitova, Radka T AU - Kevorkyan, Ani K AU - Atanasova, Maria V AU - Ivanova, Aneta V AU - Golkocheva-Markova, Elica PY - 2019/03/31 Y2 - 2024/03/29 TI - Booster immunity – diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B viral infection JF - The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries JA - J Infect Dev Ctries VL - 13 IS - 03 SE - Brief Original Articles DO - 10.3855/jidc.9929 UR - https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/32040457 SP - 255-260 AB - <p>Introduction: Diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection particularly its occult form requires monitoring and repeat serological and molecular studies. The aim of the study was to investigate the possible relation between the case of a family outbreak of hepatitis A and the finding that a member of this family was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B.</p><p>Methodology: A mother and her two sons, one previously diagnosed with chronic HBV infection, were hospitalized due to suspected acute hepatitis. Serological markers for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C were assessed. Additionally, HBV DNA was tested with a sensitive PCR. Hepatitis B vaccine was administered to the mother to differentiate resolved from occult HBV infection.</p><p>Results: A family outbreak of hepatitis A was confirmed, alongside a focus of chronic HBV infection. The serological profile for two brothers was HBsAg(+), anti-HBcIgM(-), anti-HBc(+), HBcAg(-)/anti-HBe(+). The mother was negative for all HBV markers except anti-HBc. HBV DNA was detected at a level of 461 IU/mL in the elder brother, 3647 IU/mL in the younger brother and was negative in the mother on two occasions. Her anti-HBc alone, having two sons with chronic HBV infection, and her lack of antibody response to hepatitis B vaccine despite being negative for HBV DNA, led to the diagnosis of probable occult HBV infection.</p><p>Conclusion: Our results confirmed that a vaccination approach could facilitate diagnosis of chronic HBV infection in the presence of isolated anti-HBc. If it were not for a family outbreak of hepatitis A, this unexpected family HBV focus would not have been revealed.</p> ER -