scholarly journals Seroprevalences of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus among Participants of an Asian Health Fair in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 196-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Ip ◽  
Jo-Ann Ford ◽  
Kirby Lau ◽  
Vladimir Marquez ◽  
Marisa Guan ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND: The seroprevalences of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are 0.4% and 0.8%, respectively, in Canada, but varying rates have been reported in different populations.OBJECTIVES: To determine the seroprevalences of HBV and HCV among attendees of an Asian health fair in the Lower Mainland, British Columbia, as well as to correlate questionnaire answers regarding vaccination status to serological profiles.METHODS: Attendees at an Asian health fair were invited to participate in the present study on a voluntary basis. They provided answers to a questionnaire including ethnicity and vaccination status. Blood was then drawn for HBV and HCV serology. Active HBV was defined as HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) positive while HCV seroprevalence was defined as HCV antibody reactive. Previous exposure to HBV was defined as HBV core antibody (anti-HBc) positive and HBsAg negative. Nonimmunity was defined as anti-HBc negative and HBV surface antibody negative. Only those with correct demographic information matched to serological results were included in the study.RESULTS: There were 192 consenting attendees of the fair, of whom 112 were included in the study. Of the participants, 91% were Chinese. Active HBV infection was found in three participants (2.7% [95% CI 0.6% to 7.6%]) and HCV infection was found in two participants (1.8% [95% CI 0.2% to 6.3%]). More than 40% of participants had been previously exposed to HBV (42% [95% CI 33% to 51%]). Almost 20% demonstrated nonimmunity to HBV (19% [95% CI 12% to 27%]). There was significant discordance when questionnaire answers regarding vaccination status were compared with serological profiles.CONCLUSION: The seroprevalences of HBV and HCV in this cohort were 2.7% and 1.8%, respectively – higher than nationally reported rates. Our results highlight that the lack of knowledge of HBV infection and vaccination status remains a significant clinical issue in the Asian community of British Columbia.

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 1235-1238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inmaculada Castillo ◽  
Javier Bartolomé ◽  
Juan Antonio Quiroga ◽  
Vicente Carreño

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the absence of detectable antibodies against HCV and of viral RNA in serum is called occult HCV infection. Its prevalence and clinical significance in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is unknown. HCV RNA was tested for in the liver samples of 52 patients with chronic HBV infection and 21 (40 %) of them were positive for viral RNA (occult HCV infection). Liver fibrosis was found more frequently and the fibrosis score was significantly higher in patients with occult HCV than in negative ones, suggesting that occult HCV infection may have an impact on the clinical course of HBV infection.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnolfo Petruzziello

Introduction:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent primary malignant tumors and accounts for about 90% of all primary liver cancers. Its distribution varies greatly according to geographic location and it is more common in middle and low- income countries than in developed ones especially in Eastern Asia and Sub Saharan Africa (70% of all new HCCs worldwide), with incidence rates of over 20 per 100,000 individuals.Explanation:The most important risk factors for HCC are Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection, excessive consumption of alcohol and exposition to aflatoxin B1. Its geographic variability and heterogeneity have been widely associated with the different distribution of HBV and HCV infections worldwide.Chronic HBV infection is one of the leading risk factors for HCC globally accounting for at least 50% cases of primary liver tumors worldwide. Generally, while HBV is the main causative agent in the high incidence HCC areas, HCV is the major etiological factor in low incidence HCC areas, like Western Europe and North America.Conclusion:HBV-induced HCC is a complex, stepwise process that includes integration of HBV DNA into host DNA at multiple or single sites. On the contrary, the cancerogenesis mechanism of HCV is not completely known and it still remains controversial as to whether HCV itself plays a direct role in the development of tumorigenic progression.


2005 ◽  
Vol 79 (24) ◽  
pp. 15578-15581 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Rodríguez-Íñigo ◽  
J. Bartolomé ◽  
N. Ortiz-Movilla ◽  
C. Platero ◽  
J. M. López-Alcorocho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT In this work, we have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) can coexist in the same hepatocyte using double fluorescent in situ hybridization in liver biopsy samples from patients with chronic HCV infection with occult HBV infection. Digital image analysis of hybridization signals showed that the HBV DNA levels in coinfected hepatocytes were lower than those in cells infected only with HBV. This finding supports the hypothesis of inhibition of HBV replication by HCV. Furthermore, HCV RNA levels were lower in coinfected cells than in cells infected only with HCV, suggesting that HBV may also inhibit HCV replication.


1995 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bandar Al-Knawy ◽  
Awad A El-Mekki ◽  
Jamal Hamdi ◽  
Raja Thiga ◽  
Anwar Sheikha

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was retrospectively determined using a second generation enzyme immunoassay in 3868 blood donors from the southern part of Saudi Arabia in an area with high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Of 3354 Saudis, 48 (1.43%) were seropositive for anti-HCV. A high prevalence (43 of 204, 21.08%) of anti-HCV was observed among Egyptian donors compared with Saudis (1.43%) and other nationalities (eight of 310, 2.58%). Furthermore, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was observed to increase with age, peaking in the 25 to 34 year age group. From this and other studies conducted in different regions of Saudi Arabia, the prevalence of anti-HCV among Egyptian donors appears to range from 19.2 to 24.5%, and among Saudi donors appears to range from 1.00 to 1.7%, a rate similar to that reported from western countries; this latter rate does not seem to be influenced by the high prevalence of HBV infection in this region.


2006 ◽  
Vol 36 ◽  
pp. S190 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Larsen ◽  
D. Salmon ◽  
G. Pialoux ◽  
D. Antona ◽  
L. Piroth ◽  
...  

Viruses ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 850 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariantonietta Pisaturo ◽  
Margherita Macera ◽  
Loredana Alessio ◽  
Federica Calò ◽  
Nicola Coppola

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a black box warning related to the risk of reactivation of overt/occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection during direct acting-antivirals (DAA) treatment. This review evaluated the prevalence of HBV reactivation after hepatitis C virus (HCV) pharmacological suppression and hypothesized the management and prevention of this reactivation. During and after DAA-based treatment, reactivation of HBV infection is common in patients with detectable serum HBsAg (from 2% to 57%) and very low (less than 3%) in individuals with isolated anti-HBc antibodies. The severity of hepatic damage may range from HBV reactivation without hepatitis to fulminant hepatic failure requiring liver transplantation. Thus, HBsAg-positive patients should receive nucleo(s)tide analog (NA) treatment or prophylaxis at the same time as DAA therapy. For those patients with occult B infection, there are no sufficient recommendations to start prophylactic treatment. Reactivation of overt or occult HBV infection during or after eradication of HCV infection is an issue to consider, and additional studies would help to determine the best management of this virological and clinical event.


Author(s):  
Helmut K. Seitz ◽  
Tatjana Arslic-Schmitt

Zusammenfassung. Zielsetzung: Im Folgenden soll dargelegt werden, dass Alkoholkarenz sowohl die Leberfunktion als auch das Überleben in jedem Stadium einer alkoholischen Lebererkrankung günstig beeinflusst. Ergebnisse: Täglicher Alkoholkonsum von mehr als 25 Gramm reinen Alkohols, etwas mehr als ¼ Liter Wein beim Mann und etwa die Hälfte bei der Frau sind, mit einem erhöhten Risiko für eine alkoholische Lebererkrankung (ALE) behaftet. Die ALE besteht aus einem breiten Spektrum von histopathologischen Veränderungen. Sie beginnt immer mit einer alkoholischen Fettleber, die sich in eine alkoholische Steatohepatitis weiterentwickeln kann. Fortgeschrittene Formen der ALE beinhalten die Leberfibrose, die Leberzirrhose und das hepatozelluläre Karzinom. In der Behandlung jeder Form der ALE ist die Alkoholabstinenz von zentraler Bedeutung. Ein Großteil der alkoholischen Fettlebern bildet sich unter Alkoholkarenz oder sogar Alkoholreduktion zurück. Die alkoholische Hepatitis, ein klinisches Syndrom mit hoher Mortalität, führt ohne Alkoholkarenz innerhalb von Tagen und Wochen zum Tode. Darüber hinaus ist selbst die Leberfibrose (perivenös und perisinusoidal) unter Alkoholkarenz rückbildungsfähig. Bei allen Formen der fortgeschrittenen ALE (kompensiert und nicht-kompensierte Leberzirrhose) wird die Mortalität durch Alkoholkarenz oder signifikante Reduktion im Gegensatz zum fortgesetzten Alkoholkonsum signifikant verringert. Selbst Patienten mit alkoholischer Leberzirrhose können über mehr als 20 Jahre ohne Komplikationen weiterleben, wenn sie komplett auf Alkohol verzichten. Schlussfolgerung: Im Vergleich zu Leberzirrhose anderer Ätiologie, wie zum Beispiel Zirrhosen, die durch das Hepatitis-B Virus oder das Hepatitis-C Virus verursacht sind, haben alkoholische Leberzirrhosen unter Alkoholkarenz eine wesentlich bessere Prognose. Damit ist Alkoholkarenz eine gute Therapie und der Erfolg jeder anderen neuen Therapie muss mit Alkoholkarenz verglichen werden.


2017 ◽  
Vol 05 (03) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Wu ◽  
Tsivia Hochman ◽  
Judith D Goldberg ◽  
Jafar Al Mondhiry ◽  
Bennal Perkins ◽  
...  

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