ABSTRACT
Hepatitis B virus [HBV] infection is a major risk factor of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma affecting billions of people globally. Since information on its prevalence in general population is mandatory for formulating effective policies, this population based serological survey was conducted in Sistan and Baluchistan, where no previous epidemiological data were available. Using random cluster sampling 3989 healthy subjects were selected from 9 districts of Sistan and Baluchistan Province in southeastern Iran. The subjects' age ranged from 6 to 65 years old. Serum samples were tested for HBcAb, HBsAg. Screening tests were carried out by the third generation of ELISA. Various risk factors were recorded and multivariate analysis was performed. The prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAb in Sistan and Baluchistan was 3.38% [95% CI 2.85; 3.98] and 23.58% [95% CI 22.29; 24.93] respectively. We found 8 cases of positive anti-HDV antibody. Predictors of HBsAg or HBcAb in multivariate analysis were age, marital status and addiction. The rate of HBV infection in Sistan and Baluchistan was higher than other parts of Iran. Approxi-mately 25% of general population in this province had previous exposure to HBV and 3% were HBsAg carriers. Intrafamilial and addiction were major routes of HBV transmission in this province
ABSTRACT
Chronic hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection is the major cause of liver disease related morbidity and mortality in hemophilic patients who needs regular blood product administration. Although genotype of infecting HCV is one of the prime predictors of response to antiviral therapy however, its distribution in hemophilic patients is still unclear and just few studies with low sample sizes have investigated this issue. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to identify this distribution in 367 Iranian hemophilic patients. Blood samples were received from 367 hemophilic patients with chronic hepatitis C detected during a nationwide screening program who referred to our center for therapeutic measures. HCV RNA viral load was detected using Amplicor test [Version 2]. Genotyping was performed by genotype specific primers. HCV genotype distribution was 1a in 58%, 3a in 18.5%, 1b in 14.7%, 4 in 1.1%, 2 in 0.8% and mixed in 6.2% and finally 0.5% of isolates were non-typable. Serum liver enzymes were not associated with HCV viral load and genotypes. Patients with severe bleeding tendency had significantly lower serum liver enzymes than those with a mild bleeding tendency. Genotype 1a followed by 3a and 1b were the most frequently detected HCV genotypes in Iranian hemophilic patients and there was no association between splenomegaly and viral markers and liver enzymes in these patients
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Adult , Genotype , Hemophilia A/virology , Blood Coagulation Disorders, Inherited/virologyABSTRACT
Hepatitis A and E are among the most important etiological factors of acute hepatitis, which can lead to fulminant liver disease and death. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis A and E in the east of Golestan Province, Iran. Eight hundred inhabitants of Gonbad City and Ghamar Ghozi Village from Kalale district were randomly selected for the study. Hepatitis A virus Antibody [Anti HAV] and Hepatitis E virus Antibody [Anti HEV] were checked by ELISA method. A total of 697 subjects [441 females] with a mean age of 43 +/- 15.1 years participated in this study. A total of 687 [98.6%] and 82 [11.8%] persons had positive Anti HAV and Anti HEV, respectively. This research is the first study on the prevalence of hepatitis A and E in the general population of Iran, which shows that HA V infection is pandemic and hepatitis E is common in the area
ABSTRACT
Beta-2 microglobulin [beta2MG] is the light chain of Histocompatibility-Class I human antigen and its normal range is <3mg/ml. beta2MG level in sera of hepatitis B patients increases. In Hepatitis infection the presentation of the viral antigen on the hepatocyte in the presence of Class I HLA antigen plays a major role in the elimination of the virus. In this descriptive study, s beta2MG, HBsAg [by ELISA], and HBV DNA [by PCR] were evaluated in sera of49 patients with hepatitis B and 35 subjects in control group. Our results showed HbsAg was positive in all patients. 29 of patients were HBV-DNA-PCR positive and 20 HBV-DNA-PCR negative.beta2MG in all subjects in control group was in normal range and in 34.7% of patients above normal limit. beta2MG in HBV-DNA-PCR positive patients was higher than HBV DNA PCR negative patients. Such differences were significant [p <0.05]. It seems S beta2MG is a good marker for HBV replication and its absence may exclude HBV replication. The role of beta2MG in monitoring response to therapy needs to be further evaluated