HBV markers in haemodialysis Brazilian patients: a prospective 12-month follow-up

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) among haemodialysis (HD) subjects and to evaluate whether testing for serological markers at the time of admission is suitable for HBV screening in this population. One hundred twenty-three patients belonging to two HD centres from São Paulo, Brazil, were tested prospectively. HBV DNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in each of the prospective subjects (n = 123) during one year. Additionally, all samples (n = 1,476) were analysed for HBV serological markers. The prevalence of hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA were 34.1%, 15.4% and 8.1%, respectively, while the incidence was null. Fluctuation in HBV serology was observed in one patient. Only 37.8% (17/45) of cases responded to the HBV vaccine. Our results suggest that employing more than one HBV marker and repeated follow-up evaluations may improve HBV screening in HD units.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Moreira,Regina Célia, Deguti,Marta Mitiko, Lemos,Marcilio Figueiredo, Saraceni,Cláudia Patara, Oba,Isabel Takano, Spina,Angela Maria Miranda, Nascimento-Lima,Alessandra Stilhano, Fares,Jorge, Azevedo,Raymundo Soares, Gomes-Gouvêa,Michele Soares, Carrilho,Flair José, Pinho,João Renato Rebello
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Ministério da Saúde 2010
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0074-02762010000100017
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