Frequency of hepatitis-B and hepatitis-C in liver cirrhosis

ABSTRACT

To observe the frequency of hepatitis B and C in cases of liver cirrhosis. This descriptive study was conducted in all the Medical wards of Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur from June 2005 to May 2006. One hundred cases of liver cirrhosis presented through out patient or emergency department in the medicine department of Bahawal Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Out of 100 patients, 59 [59%] were male and 41[41%] were female. Majority of the patients [80%] were 20 to 59 years old. HBsAg was positive in 28 [28%] patients, HCV RNA in 43 [43%], both HBsAg and HCV RNA were positive in 06 [06%] and negative in 23 [23%] cases. Most of the patients [46%] were in grade "B" of Modified Child Pugh's classifications, Among them 20 were HCV RNA positive and 15 HBsAg positive, While 20 [20%] were in grade "A" and 34 patients [34%] in grade "C". The risk factors for transmission of HBV and HCV infection were identified in 43% of cases. Chronic HCV is a leading cause of cirrhosis in Bahawalpur, followed by chronic HBV infection. Both the viruses in combination account for about three fourth of the total cirrhotics