Abstract
Retrospective analysis of Hepatitis B serology profiles of a cohort of Hepatitis B Surface antigen positive patients, Sri Lanka
Wirasinghe K1 , Abeynayake JI2 , Perera PADMP 1 , Galagoda G2, Nanayakkara SSJ2, Pradeepa SK2
2 Department of Virology, Medical Research Institute, Colombo 08,
Abstract
Introduction: Currently more than 350 million people are estimated to be chronically infected with Hepatitis B (HBV). The prevalence of HBV in Sri Lanka is estimated to vary between 0.1‐2.5 %. A detailed descriptive statistical analysis has not yet been performed on the available HBV serology profiles in Sri Lanka.
Objective: To describe the serology profiles of Hepatitis B surface antigen positive (HBsAg+) patients tested at the medical research institute of Sri Lanka during 2007-2017
Method: A sample of 517 test reports of patients with positive HBsAg was extracted during the period from 2007 to 2017 for analysis. The serology profiling had been done using ELISA technique available at the time of testing. The data collected for each patient consisted of available data on the MRI request form which included age and gender.
Results: The mean age of the sample was 36 years (Mdn=36, 95% CI=36‐38 years) and 5% of them were <12 years of age. Male to female ratio was 2:1. Out of 517 profiles, 23% (118) had serologically acute hepatitis, 12% (63) chronic hepatitis, 12% (63) early acute hepatitis, 3% (17) acute resolving hepatitis, 2% (10) immune tolerant or immune active chronic hepatitis, 11% (55) chronic HBeAg negative, and 3% (18) chronic inactive carrier stage. Out of the total 22.4% (116) were positive for HBeAg+ with high infectivity. HBeAg positivity among the age groups of <10 years, 11-19 years, > 20 years was 72%, 22% and 20% respectively. There was a significant difference in infectivity (p<0.05) among the three age groups.
Conclusions: More than1/5 of HBV infected is of high infectivity. HBeAg positivity appears to be higher in the age group <10 years.
Published on
26 Dec 2018.
Peer Reviewed
