Aim: To assess the possible role of occult HBV infection in the pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis in Iranian patients.
Methods: After exclusion of autoimmune, metabolic and viral etiologies, 104 consecutive adult patients with histologic and biochemical features of chronic hepatitis and negative HBsAg were enrolled in the study. Qualitative PCR with a sensitivity of 150 x 10(3) copies/L, using two primers for Pre-S and core regions was applied to measure presence of HBV DNA in serum of the patients.
Results: All 104 patients completed the study. Qualitative HBV DNA was positive in two patients (1.9%).
Conclusion: Occult HBV infection has negligible role in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic chronic hepatitis in Iranian patients.