EVALUATION OF SOME BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS AND THE ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO HEPATITIS B VACCINE IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: The goal of this study was to assess the immune response to the HB vaccine (the level of anti-HBs titer), as well as the prevalence of serum creatinine, urea, CRP, and serum albumin levels, and the relationship between these and immune response to the vaccine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: 127 patients with chronic renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) were compared to 40 healthy people in Iraqi dialysis center, Baghdad. Antibodies to the hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were detected using the ARCHITECT SYSTEM and the Anti-HBs titer, HBs Ag, Anti-HCV determined by ELISA. RESULTS: Results: When compared to the poor and non-responder groups, the mean value of anti-HBs titer increased considerably in the good responder group. The good responder and control groups, on the other hand, showed no significant changes. The anti-HBs titer was found to have the strongest negative correlation with serum creatinine, blood urea, and C-reactive protein levels. There was a considerable positive connection between anti-HBs titer and albumin levels. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: The responses of HD patients to the HB vaccine revealed the significant negative relation between serum creatinine, blood urea levels, and CRP, as well as a significant positive correlation between serum albumin.

EVALUATION OF SEROLOGICAL SCREENING AND PCR-AMPLIFICATION OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS DNA AMONG IRAQI BLOOD DONORS.

OBJECTIVE: The aim: Infection with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) caused by blood transfusion is a big problem throughout the world. The aim of study is to determine the faster and more accurate methods for detection of hepatitis B infections by serological screening and PCR- amplification. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Materials and methods: A total of 140528 donors were tested for HBsAg and total anti-HBc from January to October 2021 in Iraq's National Blood Transfusion Center; however, only 100 samples with HBsAg (-) and anti-HBc (+) were collected and tested for HBV DNA using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Results: From 2015 to 2021, the percentage of HBsAg positive donors was 0.33 percent in 2015, 0.32 percent in 2016, 0.30 percent in 2017, 0.28 percent in 2018, 0.23 percent in 2019, 0.22 percent in 2020, and 0.27 percent in 2021. Between January and October of 2021, the overall anti-HBc rate among the (140528) donors was 4.42 percent. According to our findings, only 7% of blood samples from NBTC donors with HBsAg (-) anti-HBc (+) were positive for HBV DNA. The results showed no significant change in HBs Ag (+) and total anti-HBc rates among blood donors between 2015 and 2021. CONCLUSION: Conclusions: HBV infection could be transmitted from a blood donor with OBI. PCR (RT PCR) is substantially more sensitive and effective. Despite this the use of an anti-HBc test for blood donors could be seen as a second choice to control HBV from spreading during blood transfusions.