Chronic liver disease among Egyptian military persons: contribution of hepatitis virus infections

ABSTRACT

In Egypt, viral hepatitis is the major cause of chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis. The aim of this work is to estimate the frequency of hepatitis virus infections among military persons with chronic liver disease. One hundred and ten male military personnel having chronic liver disease [CLD] were subjected to laboratory investigations including hepatitis viral markers, abdominal ultrasonography and liver biopsy. They were divided into three groups according to results of hepatitis B virus [HBV] and hepatitis C virus [HCV] seromarkers. Group I comprised 31 patients [28.2%] who had evidence of HBV infection, group II comprised 53 patients [48,2%] who had evidence of HCV infection, and group III comprised 26 patients [23.6%] who had evidence of both HBV and HCV infection. Age group therapy, as a risk factor for acquiring infection, was significantly more in groups I and II compared with group III. Liver cirrhosis was significantly more in group III compared with group II. Both ascites and lower limb edema were significantly more prevalent in groups I and III compared with group II. Hepatocellular carcinoma was significantly more in group I compared with group II. Chronic persistent hepatitis was significantly more in group I compared with groups II and III, while chronic active hepatitis was significantly less in group I compared with groups II and III. Serum AST and ALT were significantly higher in groups II and III compared with group I. Hemoglobin was significantly lower and prothrombin time was significantly longer in group II compared with group I as well as in group III compared with group II. Platelet count was significantly lower in groups II and III compared with group I. These data denote that HCV constituted the main causative agent of viral hepatitis in causing CLD and its prevalence is associated with more severe chronic hepatitis and bleeding tendency