الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background: OBI has been identified in patients with chronic liver disease two decades ago. We investigated OBI in 158 patients suffering from CHC alone or with either liver cirrhosis or HCC, selected from admitted or attended patients of MUH. We also studied the serological profiles and the value of anti-HBc as a serological marker for detection of HBV DNA in serum samples from population of HBsAg negative/ anti-HBc positive and HCV infected.
Methods: This study was conducted from January, 2009 to October, 2010 on 158 patients suffering from CHC alone or with either liver cirrhosis or HCC, selected from admitted or attended patients of MUH. OBI were identified by nested PCR. All serological HBV markers were determined using one step multi-HBV test device. Anti-HBc was done by the rapid diagnostic device and HBsAg by ELISA.
Results: The overall prevalence of occult HBV in patients with HCV related liver diseases was 21% (being 44.4%, 22.2% and 16.3% in those with HCC, cirrhosis and CHC, respectively). Eighty six patients (67.18%) were positive for anti-HBc, HBV-DNA detected in the serum of 22% of anti-HBc positive patients. The anti-HBc only (51.8%) was the most common serological profile in OBI, followed by OBI negative for all serological markers (29.6%).
Conclusion: HBV infection could be present even in patients with HBsAg negative sera. In Egypt, the cost effectiveness is a very important issue so routine screening for anti-HBc is particularly important in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease and may be more practical than measuring HBV DNA. However, confirmatory HBV DNA testing must be done for positive anti-HBc patients to insure active infection.