Was I co-infected

[Doni81]

I was diagnosed with HCV in 2013, and received triple therapy to clear the virus. I have cleared the virus and I am HCV free at the age of 35 for almost 2 years now. Before treatment I did fibroscan and received result of f3, at the age of 33.

When I was doing the tests for HCV I was also tested for HBV and had the following results in 2013:

HBsAg - 0.428 COI - Non-reactive
HBsAb - <2 IU/L - Not immune
Hepatitis B Anti "e" Antibodies - 0.72 - Reactive
Hepatitis B e-Antigen - 0.137 COI - Non-reactive
Hepatitis B Core IGM 0.03 - Non-reactive

At that time doctor said this is inconclusive, but most likely I have cleared the virus on my own. He did not do further testing and was concentrated on treating my HCV.

Today my liver profile is normal, HCV is gone but digging through old medical reports I came up with my HBV reports and started wondering if I have that silent mutant type of HBV still and maybe my liver is still getting damage? I read that you can have normal ALT/AST and negative antigens and still have the HBV virus damaging your liver. Why didn't my doctor do further investigation on HBV? Should I resume the HBV investigations? Do another round of tests and fibroscan?

[Doni81]

Yes. Actually last year. After finishing treatment of HCV. The test results I posted in my first message are when I did not do vaccination, which is why antiHBs was negative then. Which was confusing as I had antiHBe positive and I still do.

[sorte]

Your anty-HBc total is equivocal, it may sign some past infection. Also anti-HBe total positive may suggest it.

[sorte]

During coinfection hcv virus takes most of the hepathocytes over hbv. But anyway your HbsAg would be positive if you were chronic carrier.
There was no test for anti-HBc total, only for core IGM so how you doctor may say anything about past infection without that important result ?
Test again HBsAg and anti-HBc total and if both negative get vaccinated, because it would mean you've never contacted the virus so you are not protected.
I don't know how to explain your HBe+ in the context of other results, maybe test error ?

[Doni81]

I will test again. It means that I might have got false negative HBsAg??

[sorte]

very low probability, those tests are very sensitive

[sorte]

there is a chance to get false positive, but almost impossible to get false negative

[Doni81]

HBsAg - Non reactive
Anti HBs - Reactive
Anti HBc Total - Equivocal
HBeAg - Negative
Anti HBe - Positive
Anti HBc IgM - - Negative

Also did fibroscan - F0

[sorte]

did you ever has vaccacine for hbv ?