Reactivation of hepatitis B in an HIV-infected patient with antibodies against hepatitis B core antigen as the only serological marker

Presented here is the first report of clinical reactivation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in an HIV-infected patient who previously had anti-HBc as the only serological marker of past infection (anti-HBc alone). Reactivation occurred after lamivudine was removed from the patient's antiretroviral treatment regimen due to lack of virological response. HIV-infected patients frequently present anti-HBc alone, and in some cases this serological profile is associated with occult HBV infection. The current case demonstrates the importance of ruling out the possibility of occult infection in this patient group.