Hepatitis B Virus Infection: Characteristics of Patients, Frequency and Significance of Viral Markers

Aim: This was to evaluate the characteristics of subjects with chronic HBV infection and describe the pattern of serological markers of the infection. Methods: A total of 132 subjects was recruited. A standard questionnaire was used to document demographic information of each participant, as well as possible risk factors for HBV infection. The subjects had physical examination and laboratory tests which included Abdominal Ultrasound Scan, Liver Function Tests, HBeAg, antiHBe, antiHCV and HBV DNA assay. Results: The subjects comprised 89 (67.4%) males and 43 (32.6%) females. The mean age of the patients was 34.0±9.3 years with a range of 13- 57 years. Analysis showed that 50 (37.9%) of them were between 30-39 years. Risk factors for HBV infection identified in the patients were scarification in 26 (19.7%), previous blood transfusion in 8 (6.1%), past surgery in 28 (21.2%), with the most frequent surgery being appendicectomy in 3 (2.3%), followed by dental extraction in 2 (1.5%) patients. Other risk factors were multiple sexual partners in 37 (28%) and indiscriminate injections in 6 (4.5%). Serology showed 24 (18.2%) patients were HBeAg positive, while 88 (66.7%) were antiHBe positive. Mean ALT was 33.0 ±21.7 iu/ml (range 2-150). Value of ALT ≥ 40 iu/ml was observed in 37 (28%) patients. Mean HBV DNA was 9,284,149.2±36,748,525.5 iu/ml (range of 20-170,000,000 iu/ml). HBV DNA level ≥ 2,000 iu/ml was observed in 54 (40.9%) patients. Conclusion: In conclusion, markers of HBV infection are prevalent in these asymptomatic subjects. So, there is need to always screen for these markers.