Comparison between HBe antigen-negative patients and HBe antigen-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B infection in Benghazi, Libya

To determine the frequency of HBeAg-negative/anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B in patients with chronic hepatitis B, in Benghazi, Libya, and to compare the epidemiological, biochemical, serologic and histologic features in HBe-Ag-negative patients and HBeAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis B in these two groups of patients. One hundred and fifty HBsAg-positive patients with chronic hepatitis presented consecutively to the liver clinic, Al-Jamahiriya Teaching Hospital, Benghazi, between January 2002 and December 2003 were studied. The 150 patients were divided into two groups, according to their HBe status: group 1 consisted of 30 patients with serum HBeAg-positive group 2 comprised 120 patients with positive serum anti-HBe and negative serum HBeAg. Epidemiological features were assessed in all patients from their medical records. Serological tests for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBeAb were performed by ELISA techniques. HBV-DNA levels were performed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The two groups did not differ in sex distribution, and the average age was higher in patients who were HBeAg-negative. History of hepatitis in family members was more observed in the HBeAg-negative group [p=0.01]. No difference was observed between the two groups with respect to other risk factors and serum ALT levels at the time of diagnosis. The time course of ALT levels observed in patients during the 6 month follow up did not differ between the two groups [p = NS]. Cirrhosis and fibrosis were more common in patients with HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B group [p<0.05 for both parameters]. The frequency of HBeAg-negative chronic hepatitis B infection is high in Libya. This high prevalence rate has an impact on the natural history and prognosis of the disease in this part of the world

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with dyspepsia in Tripoli Central hospital, Tripoli, Libya

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori [H. pylori] infection by Rapid Urease Test [RUT] in patients presented with upper gastro-intestinal tract [GIT] symptoms to the Medical Department at Tripoli Central Hospital in horm upper [GIT] endoscopy was performed. We studied 99 patients between May and October 2000, 53 [53.5%] males and 46 [46.5%] females. The mean +/- SD age was 38 +/- 16 years. The main presenting symptoms were epigastric pain, nausea and/or vomiting. None of the patients has received any antibiotics in the previous month. All patients had an upper GIT endoscopy and at least three biopsy specimens were taken from both antrum and the body of the stomach. The biopsy specimens were then placed in a test solution [CLO test, from Astrazenica] containing [urea, pH colour reagent and a bacteriostatic agent]. The colour change checked at one, 12 and 24 hours at room temperature. The test was considered positive if there was a change in colour of the solution and negative if there was no change. Duodenal ulcer [DU] was found in 36 [36.4%] patients, gastritis in 32 [32.2%] patients, duodenitis in 12 [12.1%] patients, reflux esophagitis in 5 [5%] patients and DU with reflux esophagitis in 6 [6.1%] patients. The CLO test was positive at one hour in 67 [67.7%] patients and at 12 and 24 hours in 69 [69.7%] of all the patients. Most of those patients were below the age of 45 years. H. pylori detected by positive RUT in 80% and 56% of patients with DU and gastritis respectively. DU and gastritis were the most common endoscopic findings in the studied population. The prevalence of H pylori infection in our patients with DU is similar to that reported in studies from other parts of the world