Screening for chronic hepatitis B and C in migrants from Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the former Soviet Republics, and Vietnam in the Arnhem region, The Netherlands

SUMMARYMigrants born in hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) endemic countries are at increased risk of being infected with these viruses. The first symptoms may arise when liver damage has already occurred. The challenge is to identify these infections early, since effective treatment has become available. In 2011 we conducted a screening project in first-generation migrants (FGMs) born in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the former Soviet Republics, and Vietnam and living in Arnhem and Rheden. All participants were offered free blood screening for HBV and HCV. In total 959 participants were tested, with the country of origin known for 927, equating to 28·7% of all registered FGMs from the chosen countries. Nineteen percent (n = 176) had serological signs of past or chronic HBV infection and 2·2% (n = 21) had chronic HBV infection. The highest prevalence of chronic HBV infection was found in the Vietnamese population (9·5%, n = 12). Chronic HCV was found in two persons from the former Soviet Republics and one from Vietnam. Twenty-four percent (n = 5) of the newly identified patients with chronic HBV and one of the three patients with chronic HCV received treatment. Three of the patients, two with HCV and one with HBV, already had liver cirrhosis. The highest (9·5%) HBV prevalence was found in FGMs from Vietnam, indicating a high need for focusing on that particular immigrant population in order to identify more people with silent HBV infection. The fact that three patients already had liver cirrhosis underlines the necessity of early identification of HBV and HCV infection in risk groups.

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Studies on Mutual Relationship between Anti-HBx and sFas, IL-10 or IL-12 in Sera of Cases with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

Infection International ◽

10.1515/ii-2017-0075 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 49-53

Author(s):

Ai-kun Ding ◽

Li-wei Guo ◽

Yong-kong Wang ◽

Wei Liu ◽

Cheng Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Sandwich Elisa ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Mutual Relationship ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv

Abstract Objective To study the mutual relationship between anti-HBx and IL-10, IL-12 or soluble Fas (sFas) in sera of patients with chronic HBV infection and to explore the importance of anti-HBx detection as well as its role in the development of chronic HBV infection. Methods Total of 90 cases with chronic HBV infection were randomly selected, including 10 of asymptomatic carriers (ASC), 28 of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 26 of liver cirrhosis (LC) and 26 patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Their clinical data and blood samples were collected, and serum was prepared and stored at -73℃. Anti-HBx was detected with an indirect ELISA established in our earlier research, and levels of IL-10, IL-12 and Fas were determined with commercial double-antibody sandwich ELISA kits. The mutual relationship between anti-HBx and IL-10, IL-12 or sFas in serum were analyzed with the software SPSS 20.0. Results All levels of IL-10, IL-12 and sFas in peripheral blood showed a rising trend with development of chronic HBV infection. The levels of IL-10 in ASC, CHB, LC and HCC groups were 13.93 ± 14.40 ng/L, 39.38 ± 20.77 ng/L, 69.06 ± 46.37 ng/L and 62.82 ± 23.42 ng/L, respectively, levels of IL-12 in the 4 groups were 15.64 ± 23.04 ng/L, 68.50 ± 23.14 ng/L, 76.83 ± 12.82 ng/L and 83.74 ± 24.88 ng/L, respectively, and levels of sFas were 58.17 ± 77.42 ng/L, 179.88 ± 104.36 ng/L, 249.22 ± 107.80 ng/L and 252.98 ± 87.65 ng/L, respectively. Twenty-seven out of 90 patients showed a positive result for anti-HBx detection, including 1 in ASC, 4 in CHB, 12 in LC and 10 in HCC group. The levels of IL-10, IL-12 and sFas were higher in anti-HBx positive group than in negative group. Statistical analysis demonstrated significant differences of IL-10 and IL-12 between the two groups (P < 0.05), but the differences of sFas had no statistical significance (P = 0.094). Conclusions Anti-HBx antibody is not protective, and is closely related to IL-10, IL-12 and sFas. It may be an important serum indicator for aggravation from chronic hepatitis B to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic HBV infection.

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Increased risk of developing chronic HBV infection in infants born to chronically HBV infected mothers as a result of delayed second dose of hepatitis B vaccination

Vaccine ◽

10.1016/j.vaccine.2009.08.034 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 27 (44) ◽

pp. 6110-6115 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Piyanit Tharmaphornpilas ◽

Aim-orn Rasdjarmrearnsook ◽

Saowanee Plianpanich ◽

Pattaratida Sa-nguanmoo ◽

Yong Poovorawan

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Hepatitis B Vaccination ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Chronic Hbv

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HBsAg level as a predictor of disease activity in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection with delta-agent

Infekcionnye bolezni ◽

10.20953/1729-9225-2020-4-149-152 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 149-152

Author(s):

M.A. Abdukadyrova ◽

◽

S.M. Sharapov ◽

A.S. Khikmatullaeva ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Disease Activity ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Dna ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Hbsag Level ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv

We have conducted a pilot study to identify the association between the HBsAg level and activity of the pathological process in the liver, as well as possibility of quantitative assessment of HBsAg for monitoring chronic liver diseases caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV). Objective. To assess the possibility of using HBsAg levels as a predictor of disease activity and prognosis in patients with chronic HBV infection with delta-agent. Patients and methods. We analyzed serum specimens from 30 patients with HDV and HBV co-infection. Among 15 patients with chronic hepatitis B with delta-agent, there were 5 HBV DNA positive and 10 HBV DNA negative. Among patients with liver cirrhosis, HBV DNA was detected in 11 individuals, while 4 individuals had undetectable HBV DNA levels. Results. We found that mean HBsAg level in patients with chronic HBV infection and negative HBV DNA was 1.9 ± 0.56 IU/mL. Mean HBsAg level in patients with chronic HBV infection with delta-agent and positive HBV DNA was 4.3 ± 0.62 IU/mL (p < 0.05). High HBsAg levels correlated with elevated ALT in patients with chronic hepatitis B and delta-agent. Patients with liver cirrhosis caused by HDV had normal ALT levels, but elevated bilirubin concentrations regardless of HBV DNA presence and HBsAg level. Conclusion. High levels of HBsAg can be considered as a predictor of active disease in patients with chronic HBV infection with delta-agent and also a marker of transformation of chronic hepatitis B with delta-agent into liver cirrhosis. Key words: chronic hepatitis B with delta agent, liver cirrhosis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, HBsAg levels, polymerase chain reaction

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Correlation Between Liver Cirrhosis and Risk of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Revista de Chimie ◽

10.37358/rc.18.6.6361 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 69 (6) ◽

pp. 1527-1532

Author(s):

Veronica Calborean ◽

Silvia Alina Miscoci ◽

Octavian Istratoaie ◽

Oana Galceava ◽

Dragos Ovidiu Alexandru ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atrial Fibrillation ◽

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Cardiac Arrhythmias ◽

Hcv Infection ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hcv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

Chronic Hcv

There are few studies analyzing the correlation between liver cirrhosis and cardiac arrhythmias. Still, factors triggering cardiac arrhythmias occur in many instances in liver cirrhosis.We studied a cohort with patientsdiagnosed with liver cirrhosis hospitalized to Cardiology Department, to the County Hospital of Craiova, between January 2017 and January 2018. We wanted to study the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias at the patients diagnosed with liver cirrhosis and also to evaluate several associated factors.The frequency of cardiac arrhythmias in the presence of risk factors was analysed using x2 test and statistical models.We analized multiple variable including demographics and clinical and biochemical characteristics, frequency of type of arrhythmias and evaluation of the associated factors like diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia ,hyper/hypokalemia and hyper/hyponatremia. From our group, after exclusion criteria, we have a total of 34 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 37 patients with chronic HCV infection and 36 patients with HBV infection. From 34 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, 23 patients presented atrial fibrillation(67.65%), from 37 patients with chronic HCV infection 21 were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation(56.76%) and from the patients with HBV infection 19 patients were known with atrial fibrillation(52.78%).We have encounter atrial flutter at 2 patients (5.56%) with chronic HBV infection. Atrial extrasystole was found at 7 patients with chronic HBV infection (19.44%), 4 patients with chronic HCV infection (10.81%) and 1 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (2.94%). Ventricular extrasystole was found at 12 patients with chronic HBV infection (33.33%), 3 patients with chronic HCV infection (8.11%) and 5 patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (14.71%).We have also correlate the arrhythmias with different biochemical variables from our cohort. In our study there were many association between hepatic cirrhosis and cardiac abnormalities, which is concordant to reports from literature. Compared to population without liver cirrhosis, the prevalence of arrhythmias was increased in our cohort.

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Cross-sectional study of chronic hepatitis B virus infection in Rwandan high-risk groups: unexpected findings on prevalence and its determinants

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054039 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e054039

Author(s):

Justine Umutesi ◽

Carolina Klett-Tammen ◽

Sabin Nsanzimana ◽

G Krause ◽

J J Ott

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

High Risk ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Risk Groups ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Chronic Hbv

ObjectivesUsing secondary data from 208 079 Rwandans, we determined the prevalence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection among high-risk groups and its demographic, geographical and health-related determinants.DesignIn this cross-sectional study, we obtained and analysed data from a national hepatitis B vaccination and screening campaign conducted in Rwanda in 2017. We performed logistic regression to examine associations between chronic HBV infection and related factors such as risk status and geographical characteristics.SettingIndividuals were sampled nationally in all 30 districts across 4 provinces and the city of Kigali and all prisons in Rwanda.ParticipantsThe study involves 208 079 individuals at high risk including prisoners and other high-risk groups (oHRG).Main outcomeThe primary outcome for our study was hepatitis B surface antigens (HBsAg) prevalence.FindingsFrom 208 079 adults participants, 206 517 (99.2%) had valid HBsAg results, 4.3% of 64 944 prisoners and 4.0% of 140 985 oHRG were HBV positive. The prevalence was higher in Northern Province 5.1%, (95% CI 4.8 to 5.4). In multivariate analysis, the odds of infection decreased with increasing age, and hepatitis C antibody positivity reduced the odds for chronic HBV (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.66 and OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.89 among oHRG and prisoners, respectively). In addition, being female was associated with lower odds of HBV (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.74 and OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.98 among oHRG and prisoners, respectively).ConclusionWe found that individuals below 55 years of age and individuals who belong to high-risk groups (ie, sex workers, injection drug users, men who have sex with men, etc) have a higher probability of chronic HBV infection. Infection with chronic hepatitis C virus was not correlated with chronic HBV infection in our study population. Potential explanations include differential routes of transmission, specific immunological and pathophysiological factors or different effects of health prevention and control programmes.

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The Potential of Serum IFN-γ for Determining the Progression of Chronic Hepatitis B

The Indonesian Journal of Gastroenterology Hepatology and Digestive Endoscopy ◽

10.24871/2232021210-216 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 210-216

Author(s):

Tri Nugraha Susilawati ◽

Winda Rahayuningtyas ◽

Triyanta Yuli Pramana

Keyword(s):

Liver Cirrhosis ◽

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Chronic Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Provisional Diagnosis ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Ifn Γ ◽

Chronic Hbv

Background: A persistent infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can cause liver cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma even though the virus itself is non-cytopathic and does not cause cell injury. It has been asserted that liver injury in chronic HBV infection is attributed to the host immune system responding to HBV infection. Cytokines have a critical role in mediating immune responses to viral infection. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the levels of serum IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, and TNF- α with the progress of chronic HBV infection that was determined through provisional diagnosis, patient’s age, and the levels of serum transaminases.Method: Blood samples were collected from patients with chronic hepatitis B and the levels of serum IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-17, and TNF-α were measured by using ELISA. The correlation between each cytokine levels and the provisional diagnosis, patient’s age, and serum transaminases were analyzed by using the Spearman correlation test with a p value of 0.05 is considered as statistically significant.Results: A total of 47 samples were collected from patients with chronic hepatitis B (n=38), chronic hepatitis B with liver cirrhosis (n = 6), and chronic hepatitis B with hepatocellular carcinoma (nc = 3). A significant correlation was found between the levels of serum IFN-γ and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (p = 0.04).Conclusion: The increase of serum IFN-γ and AST levels may highlight the importance of these particular cytokine and liver transaminase in the immune response to chronic HBV infection since IFN-γ is capable to induce apoptotic cell death which promotes AST release and facilitates liver injury.

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High Level of Hepatitis B Core–Related Antigen Associated With Increased Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients With Chronic HBV Infection of Intermediate Viral Load

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1053/j.gastro.2019.08.028 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 157 (6) ◽

pp. 1518-1529.e3 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Tai-Chung Tseng ◽

Chun-Jen Liu ◽

Chen-Yang Hsu ◽

Chun-Ming Hong ◽

Tung-Hung Su ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Viral Load ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

High Level

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Possible role of tocopherols in the modulation of host microRNA with potential antiviral activity in patients with hepatitis B virus-related persistent infection: a systematic review

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114514002839 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (11) ◽

pp. 1751-1768 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

S. Fiorino ◽

L. Bacchi-Reggiani ◽

S. Sabbatani ◽

F. Grizzi ◽

L. di Tommaso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Antiviral Activity ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Viral Pathogen ◽

Increased Risk ◽

B Virus ◽

Chronic Hbv

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a serious global health problem and persistent HBV infection is associated with an increased risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure. Recently, the study of the role of microRNA (miRNA) in the pathogenesis of HBV has gained considerable interest as well as new treatments against this pathogen have been approved. A few studies have investigated the antiviral activity of vitamin E (VE) in chronic HBV carriers. Herein, we review the possible role of tocopherols in the modulation of host miRNA with potential anti-HBV activity. A systematic research of the scientific literature was performed by searching the MEDLINE, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases. The keywords used were ‘HBV therapy’, ‘HBV treatment’, ‘VE antiviral effects’, ‘tocopherol antiviral activity’, ‘miRNA antiviral activity’ and ‘VE microRNA’. Reports describing the role of miRNA in the regulation of HBV life cycle,in vitroandin vivoavailable studies reporting the effects of VE on miRNA expression profiles and epigenetic networks, and clinical trials reporting the use of VE in patients with HBV-related chronic hepatitis were identified and examined. Based on the clinical results obtained in VE-treated chronic HBV carriers, we provide a reliable hypothesis for the possible role of this vitamin in the modulation of host miRNA profiles perturbed by this viral pathogen and in the regulation of some cellular miRNA with a suggested potential anti-HBV activity. This approach may contribute to the improvement of our understanding of pathogenetic mechanisms involved in HBV infection and increase the possibility of its management and treatment.

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Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Pregnancy: Immunological Response, Natural Course and Pregnancy Outcomes

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132926 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2926

Author(s):

Sirinart Sirilert ◽

Theera Tongsong

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B Virus ◽

Hepatitis B ◽

Pregnancy Outcomes ◽

Natural Course ◽

Hbv Infection ◽

Chronic Hbv Infection ◽

B Virus ◽

Chronic Hbv ◽

Adverse Pregnancy ◽

The Impact

This review aimed to provide an update on the impact of pregnancy on the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and also on the impact of HBV infection on adverse pregnancy outcomes, including mother-to-child transmission (MTCT). For the literature review, original research articles, review articles, and guidelines were narratively reviewed and comprehensively validated. The databases of PubMed, EMBASE, and CINAHL were carefully searched for articles in English on topics related to HBV infection, pregnancy, and vertical transmission from 1960 to May 2021. Immunological changes during pregnancy such as suppression of Th1 response and induction of Th2 immunity lead to an impaired immune reaction to HBV and stimulate viral activity along with the reduction of CD8 T cells to escape immune detection. The impact of pregnancy on the natural course of chronic HBV infection seems to be minimal, while pregnancy can increase morbidity and mortality in the case of advanced HBV hepatitis or cirrhosis. Importantly, hepatitis flare or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) flare can occur during pregnancy and is more common during the postpartum period due to the interaction between HBV and the immune response. Interestingly, the impact of HBV infection on adverse pregnancy outcomes is more serious than ever thought. Updated evidence indicates that pregnancies with chronic HBV infection increase the risk of preterm birth and gestational diabetes, especially in cases of positive hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg).

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