Frequency of Hepatitis B Virus among Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients in Khartoum State

Abstract

Hepatitis B is an infectious disease caused by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) which affects the liver and may cause hepatocellular carcinoma. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of HBV among hepatocellular carcinoma patients. The study was conducted during the period between January and April 2015. A total of seventy blood samples (n=70) were obtained from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. The patients were hospitalized in three hospitals and center in Khartoum State. These were Soba University Hospital, Ibrahim Malik Teaching Hospital, Ibn Sina Specilized Hospital and Antalya Diagnostic Center. 5 ml blood sample was collected from each patient. Serum was obtained by centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 5 min. The sera was exemined for the presence of HBsAg using Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA). The results showed that out of 70 blood samples investigated, 18 (26%) were positive for HBsAg. The rest 52(74%) were negative. Of the positive blood samples, 11(61%) were obtained from males and 7(39%) from females. Out of 37 males examined 11(30%) were positive for HBsAg, while the rest 26(70%) were negative. Moreover out of 33 females examined 7(21%) positive for HBsAg while the rest 26 (79%) were negative.

The study concluded that the HBV infection in hepatocellular carcinoma patients is not so high. The level of infection is higher in males than females. Further studies with large number of samples and more advanced technique are required to validate the results of the present study.