Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus, Hepatitis C virus and human immune deficiency virus in cirrhotic patients undergoing sclerotherapy for esophageal varices at Siriraj Hospital.

ABSTRACT

116 sera from cirrhotic patients were tested for HbsAg, Anti-HCV and Anti-HIV to assess the prevalence and determine risk factors of virus acquisition. Forty-two patients (36.21%) were positive for HbsAg, thirty patients (25.86%) were positive for Anti-HCV, five patients positive both HbsAg and Anti-HCV and only one patient (0.86%) was positive for Anti-HCV. There is no statistically different between risk factors (IVDU, prostitute, units of blood transfusion) and positity of viral markers, but alcohol seems to be less in HbsAg positive patients (p < 0.0001). For HIV the prevalrnce is comparable to general populations there is no need for routine Anti-HIV examination in cirrhotic patients with bleeding esophageal varices, but universal precaution is still the rule.