| Summary: | The present article presents a kind of hepatitis B in patients whodo not have the surface antigen (HbsAg) detectable in sera. It hasbeen described in different parts of the world and is known todayas “occult or criptic hepatitis B” and its importance has beenextensively discussed in the edical literature. Biological aspectsof the disease, its natural history, etiology and pathogenesis aredescribed. Occult hepatitis B virus infection has been found amongpatients with hepatitis C, HIV infection, hepatitis non A-E andhepatocellular carcinoma. The persistence of replication of thehepatitis B virus after acute hepatitis reinforces the need forscreening blood donators with anti-HBc and emphasizes theimportance of adoption of tests to detect nucleic acids in order toavoid the transmission of hepatitis B from seronegative blooddonors.
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