HBsAg mutations related to occult hepatitis B virus infection in HIV-positive patients result in a reduced secretion and conformational changes of HBsAg.

Background: Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is a frequent finding in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. While several related mutations in the hepatitis B virus (HBV) genome have been reported, their distinct impact on HBsAg synthesis is largely obscure.

Methods: Thirty-one (18%) out of 172 HIV-infected patients, who were selected from HBsAg-negative patients, were positive for HBV-DNA assigned as being OBI-positive.