Epidemiology of hepatitis B virus infection in Albania

Abstract

AIM:To assess the prevalence and socio-demographic distribution of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Albania. METHODS: RESULTS:The HBsAg and anti-HBs prevalence were 9.5% and 28.7%, respectively. The highest HBsAg prevalence was evident in the younger age group, such as in schoolchildren (11.8%) and the military (10.6%). Consequently, the anti-HBs prevalence increased with age, from 21.2% in schoolchildren (mean age: 15.7 years), to 36.3% in pregnant women (mean age: 26.3 years) and 29.7% in voluntary blood donors (mean age: 40.1 years). There were no significant differences between males and females. CONCLUSION:Despite the estimated two-fold reduction of HBsAg prevalence in the general population from about 18%-19% to 9.5%, Albania remains a highly endemic country (i.e. over 8% of HBsAg prevalence rate).

Hepatitis B markers and vaccination-induced protectionrate among Albanian pregnant women in Greece

“…Our data are in accordance with those presented by Resuli et al [1] , supporting that HBV infection is endemic among Albanian pregnant women. However, it seems that the awareness of Albanian immigrants, who live and work in Greece, about the control of HBV infection, is rising steadily, as supported by the comparable vaccination-induced protection rates among the Greek and Albanian pregnant women observed in our study.…”

“…The risk of vertical transmission generally depends on the level of maternal infectivity, particularly on the presence of hepatitis B e-antigen (HBeAg) and HBV DNA level [2] . In the study by Resuli et al [1] , 7.3% of the pregnant women (mean age 27.4 years) were chronically infected with HBV and 36.3% were positive for antiHBs. Despite the absence of serological data about the antiHBc status, it seems that more than 40% of the Albanian pregnant women studied have been exposed to HBV (taking into consideration a proportion of women with isolated anti-HBc seropositivity).…”

“…Resuli et al [1] presented the interesting epidemiological data concerning hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Albania. The authors studied the positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) among 3880 unvaccinated residents in rural and metropolitan areas of Albania.…”

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B among pregnant women in Varna Region, Bulgaria

“…Data on hepatitis B prevalence vary widely across Europe—Northern and Western European countries have a low prevalence of HBV infection (<0.5% HBsAg positivity in the general population), while South and Eastern Europe have an intermediate or high prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen in the general population (2–12%) [Resuli et al, ].…”

Efficacy and safety of telbivudine treatment: an open‐label, prospective study in pregnant women for the prevention of perinatal transmission of hepatitis B virus infection

“…nausea, vomiting). This improved liver function might assist patients to tolerate the changes induced by pregnancy and reduce their risk of postpartum haemorrhage due to chronic liver damage .

A limitation of the use of LdT is the potential of development of drug resistance. However, in the GLOBE study, genotypic resistance was significantly less common with LdT than lamivudine .

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