ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B carrier rate is still very high in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, where in some areas almost 16% of the population is positive for HBsAg. Delta virus, also known as hepatitis D virus, only affects those suffering from Hep B infection [HbsAg positive]. A study was carried out to check for Hepatitis Delta virus infection in these patients. This study showed that 35% HbsAg reactive patients had either coinfection or superinfection with the Hepatitis delta virus. These rates are much higher than the other studies, and are alarming. Vaccination against Hepatitis B virus can also prevent this infection. Awareness and prevention at community level is required
ABSTRACT
Objective: to evaluate the serological profije of the incidentally detected HBsAg positive patients, to asses the severity of disease and to identify the risk factors for the transmission
Design: an observational study
Place and duration of study: the study was conducted at Bolan medical Complex hospital, Quetta, from January 2001 to December 2003
Patients and methods: all patients who presented to gastroenterology clinic of Bolan Medical Complex hospital Quetta and at few private clinics with positive HbsAg, detected incidentally, were tested for alamine transaminase [ALT], hepatitis Be antigen [HbeAg] anti HBe antibody and hepatitis-B virus DNA [HBV DNA] by polymerase chain reaction [PCR]. Their risk factors for acquisition of infection were assessed with specific questions
Results: a total of one hundred and four [104] patients with HBsAg reactive were included, 89 were male and 15 were females. The mean age was 30 years, with minimum age of 07 years and maximum of 57 year. Out of 104 patients, 93 patients were tested for HbeAg, 14 [15%] were positive for HBeAg and 79 [85%] were negative. Anti HBe antibody was checked in 91 patients, and it was reactive in 72 [79%], while it was non-reactive in only 19[21%] patients. HBV DNA [qualitative] determination was done in 95 patients and it was detected in 11 [11.6%] and 84 [88.4%] were negative for HBV DNA. No significant correlation is seen between seroconversion and ALT levels. Normal ALT levels were observed only in 36 patients having seroconversion i.e AntiHBeantibody positive, while it was also normal in 5 HBeAg positive patients. Common risk factors detected in these patients were intramuscular injections, surgery and dental treatment, however, in a large number, risk factors were unknown
Conclusion: fifteen percent tomatic subjects with positive HBsAg were found to be HBeAg positive. Large number of patients 79% has seroconversion and only 11.6% have HBV DNA detected in their serum. Intramuscular injections surgery and dental treatment were noted to be frequent risk factors in these subjects