The Association among occult Hepatitis B infection and Behcet s disease in Zanjan Province

Background and Objectives: Behcet s syndrome is a multi-systemic disease with unknown cause. Factors such as genetic structure, environmental factors, and infectious agents can be interfering factor in modulating the immune system. The study of these infectious agents in autoimmune patients, due to the high correlation between autoimmune diseases and environmental factors such as viruses, is important. Occult HBV infection is characterized by the absence of serum HBsAg despite the presence of HBV DNA in the liver, serum or peripheral blood mononuclear cells. By studying the occult form of HBV infection in people with Behcet s syndrome, we can find if previous infection with hepatitis B virus could be a cause factor for developing Bechet or not. So, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between occult hepatitis B infection and patients with Behcet syndrome in Zanjan province. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 20 serum samples from patients with Behcet s syndrome and 40 serum samples as control were collected and stored at -20 ° C. The samples were studied for infections to HBV (HBsAg, anti-HBc). Then, following DNA extraction, the nested PCR method was used to confirm the presence of HBV DNA. Results: In this study, the frequencies of HBsAg + and HBsAg - in control group were 2.9%, 97.1%, respectively. Also, the anti-HBc + and anti-HBc- frequencies in this group were 7.7%, 92.3%, respectively. HBsAg positive and anti-HBc positive were not detected in patients group. The occult HBV infection in both patient and control groups was detected 10%. Conclusion: In this study, there was no significant correlation between occult hepatitis B infection and Behcet s syndrome.