Kashif Malik, Zafar Iqbal Rishi, Muhammad Azam Men Gal, Masooma Y Ousaf.
Serological Markers of Hepatitis B Infection in Incidentally Detected HBsAg Positive Patients.
Proceeding Shaikh Zayed Postgrad Med Comp Jan ;20(2):93-7.

Objective: To evaluate the serological profile of the incidentally detected HBsAg positive patients, to asses the severity of disease and to identify the risk factors for the transmission. Design: an observational study. Place and duration of study: the study was conducted at Bolan medical Complex hospital, Quetta, from January 2001 to December 2003. Patients and methods: All patients who presented to gastroenterology clinic of Bolan Medical Complex hospital Quetta and at few private clinics with positive HbsAg, detected incidentally, were tested for alamine transaminase (ALT), hepatitis Be antigen (HbeAg) anti HBe antibody and hepatitis-B virus DNA (HBV DNA) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Their risk factors for acquisition of infection were assessed with specific questions. Results: A total of one hundred and four ( 104) patients with HBsAg reactive were included, 89 were male and 15 were females. The mean age was 3 0 years, with minimum age of 07 years and maximum of 57 year. Out of 104 patients, 93 patients were tested for HbeAg, 14 (15%) were positive for HBeAg and 79 (85%) were negative. Anti HBe antibody was checked in 91 patients, and it was reactive in 72 (79%), while it was non-reactive in only 19(21 % ) patients. HBV DNA (qualitative) determination was done in 95 patients and it was detected in 11(11.6%) and 84 (88.4%) were negative for HBV DNA. No significant correlation is seen between seroconversion and ALT levels. Normal ALT levels were observed only in 3 6 patients having seroconversion i.e AntiHBeantibody positive, while it was also normal in 5 HBeAg positive patients. Common risk factors detected in these patients were intramuscular injections, surgery and dental treatment, however, in a large number, risk factors were unknown. Conclusion: Fifteen percent asymptomatic subjects with positive HBsAg were found to be HBeAg positive. Large number of patients 79% has seroconversion and only 11.6 % have HBV DNA detected in their serum. Intramuscular injections surgery and dental treatment were noted to be frequent risk factors in these subjects.

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