TY - JOUR
T1 - Isolated anti-HBc
T2 - The Relevance of Hepatitis B Core Antibody—A Review of New Issues
AU - Wu, Tiffany
AU - Kwok, Ryan M.
AU - Tran, Tram T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 by the American College of Gastroenterology.
PY - 2017/12/1
Y1 - 2017/12/1
N2 - Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is considered the most sensitive serological marker for history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In a subset of anti-HBc carriers, anti-HBc is present in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B surface antibody—a serological pattern known as “isolated anti-HBc” (IAHBc). IAHBc has been of clinical interest over the past several years, with growing data to suggest its role as a serological marker for occult HBV infection (OBI). This article reviews the clinical significance and association of IAHBc with hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, risk of HBV reactivation during direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV as well as immune suppression, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B core-related antigen is also highlighted as an emerging laboratory assay that may identify OBI and predict HCC development in non-cirrhotic patients receiving nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy.
AB - Hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) is considered the most sensitive serological marker for history of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In a subset of anti-HBc carriers, anti-HBc is present in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B surface antibody—a serological pattern known as “isolated anti-HBc” (IAHBc). IAHBc has been of clinical interest over the past several years, with growing data to suggest its role as a serological marker for occult HBV infection (OBI). This article reviews the clinical significance and association of IAHBc with hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, risk of HBV reactivation during direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV as well as immune suppression, and development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Hepatitis B core-related antigen is also highlighted as an emerging laboratory assay that may identify OBI and predict HCC development in non-cirrhotic patients receiving nucleoside/nucleotide analog therapy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039872316&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1038/ajg.2017.397
DO - 10.1038/ajg.2017.397
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29087395
AN - SCOPUS:85039872316
SN - 0002-9270
VL - 112
SP - 1780
EP - 1788
JO - American Journal of Gastroenterology
JF - American Journal of Gastroenterology
IS - 12
ER -