Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus among haemodialysis patients in Khartoum State

Abstract

The main aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and the possible risk factors of hepatitis B virus infection amon g haemodialysis patients attending dialysis centers in Khartoum State, Sudan. One hundred and seventeen (n= 117) subjects were investigated during the period from January to May, 2010. Most of the subjects examined were males (65%), age ranging from 19- 76 years. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), the main serological marker for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection was detected among 10.3% haemodialysis patients using both immunochromatographic test (ICT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There were no remarkable difference between the prevalence of HBsAg among married dialysis patients compared to single ones. The results revealed that the highest prevalence rate for HBV infection (12%) was among the age group >61 years. There were a substantial difference between the prevalence of HBsAg among males (14.5%) compared to females (2.4%).The analyzed data revealed that patients under treatment for 70-93 months (50%) had a greater risk in HBV positivity, an indication that duration of dialysis has significant effect in contracting the disease. Both serological techniques employed were, equally, sensitive in detection of HBV infection. The results obtained in this study illustrated that the previous jaundice was a profounder to HBV infection among the subjects examined. Blood transfusion was found to be the possible risk factor for the infection , however, no other risk factors (e.g, intravenous drugs, medical intervention and previous surgery) were found to be predisposing to the infection.