THERAPEUTIC CLASS
Current Knowledge of Occult Hepatitis B Infection and Clinical Implications
Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a status of undetectable serum hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) yet detectable serum and/or intrahepatic hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. Mutations in the preS1, preS2, and S regions of the HBsAg gene may result in undetectable HBsAg. OBI may either result froma self-limiting acute hepatitis, or in patients with chronic hepatitis B who achieved HBsAg seroclearance, which refers to the loss of detectability of serum HBsAg with or without antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.
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