background: the household transmission of hepatitis b virus (hbv) is a major health problem. high incidence of hbv infection is observed within the household contacts of hbv carriers. we aimed to evaluate serological markers of hepatitis b infection among family members of hbv carriers in arak, central iran. methods: data were collected from the 100 chronic hbv carriers (subjects with positive ...

In order to examine the clinical features of severe acute exacerbation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, 297 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers were followed for 35 +/- 22 months (mean +/- S.D.) in Tohoku University Hospital from 1976 to 1987. Of these, 10 experienced severe acute exacerbation with hepatic decompensation. All of these patients had intense subjective sympto...

Although newer and more effective treatments are now available for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, non-HCV viral hepatitis remains an important cause of liver disease, especially among HIV-infected individuals. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of cirrhosis worldwide, and approximately one-quarter of patients with cirrhosis develop decompensated liver disease within 5 years. Initi...

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection occurs primarily in hepatocytes in the liver with release of infectious virions and non-infectious empty surface antigen particles into the bloodstream. HBV replication is non-cytopathic. Transient infections run a course of several months, and chronic infections are often life-long. Chronic infections can lead to liver failure with cirrhosis and hepatocellular...

HBV-specific CD8(+) T cells are critical for a successful immune response to HBV infection. They are markedly diminished in number in patients who fail to control the virus, but the mechanisms resulting in their depletion remain ill defined. Here, we dissected the defective HBV-specific CD8(+) T cell response associated with chronic HBV infection by gene expression profiling. We found that HBV-...

background: hepatitis b virus (hbv) infection causes chronic infection in human population, with high mortality. one of the high risk communities is mentally retarded children, who are institutionalized. special conditions in these centers predispose children for hbv infection and transmission to healthy people. in this study our objective was to determine the prevalence of hbv infection among ...

Background/aims. This study aims to determine the distribution and clinical features of HBV-genotypes in a population of immigrants affected by HBV-infection. Methods. Between 01/2003 and 03/2009, 1623 immigrants were tested for HBV-infection. Biochemical and virological activities were determined in HBsAg-positive patients; HBV-genotypes were determined, by the INNO-LiPA HBV Genotyping, in the...

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV), chronic infection with the virus remains a major global health concern. Current drugs against HBV infection are limited by emergence of resistance and rarely achieve complete viral clearance. This has prompted vigorous research on developing better drugs against chronic HBV infection. Advances in understanding the...

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) is involved in the immune dysfunction of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study analyzed the association of circulating soluble PD-1 (sPD-1) levels with the phases and clinical diseases in chronic HBV infection. Serum sPD-1 levels were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay in patients with different phases and liver d...

Under most circumstances, HBV is not cytopathic and it is the immune response of the host that determines the outcome of infection. The most complete immune response is associated with the most severe liver injury and the greatest likelihood of viral clearance, whereas an immature immune response leads to chronic hepatitis. The natural history of chronic hepatitis B is similar to that of acute ...