HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV seroprevalance among drug users : A retrospective assessment

Abstract

Introduction: Drug abuse and co-occurring infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. In regions with high rates of drug usage, infections like hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are highly prevalent. Epidemiological studies on HBV, HCV and HIV infections among users of illicit drugs are scarce in Turkey. The primary aim of this cross-sectional and retrospective study was to determine the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-HCV antibody (anti-HCV) and anti-HIV antibody (anti-HIV) seroprevalences in drug users who applied to a psychiatric outpatient clinic of drug addiction of a university hospital. Secondarily, the assessment of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV parameters among intravenous drug users was aimed. Methods: Serum samples of all patients on probation who applied to a psychiatric outpatient clinic of drug addiction of a university hospital between 2013-2017 and sent to the department of medical microbiology for routine serologic testing were included in the study. The serologic results were obtained retrospectively from laboratory records. For the statistical analysis of the data IBM SPSS 20.0 program was used. Results: Among the studied individuals, the ELISA results demonstrated the existence of HBsAg, anti-HCV and anti-HIV in 94 out of 4357 patients (2.2%), 27 out of 4451 patients (0.6%) and 10 (0.2%) out of 4464 patients, respectively. According to the records, 17 of the patients reported intravenous drug usage. Among this patient group, three patients were found to be anti-HCV positive and one patient was found to be anti-HIV positive. Conclusion: In our study, the prevalence of HCV and HIV was increased in patients with intravenous drug usage, whereas in non-intravenous drug users the prevalence is similar to the normal population. In order to plan prevention and harm reduction services for this high-risk population, more national data is needed on HBV, HCV and HIV rates among this group.

SEROPREVALENCE OF HBsAg, Anti-HBs, Anti-HCV, and Anti-HIV IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOL AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE IN AN AMATEM CLINIC IN EASTERN TURKIYE: A SIX-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE EVALUATION

“…It was reported that 3 (17.6%) of these patients were anti-HCV positive and 1 (5.8%) was anti-HIV positive. No HBsAg positivity was detected in the same patient group (24). Similarly, our study found a mean age of intravenous substance use of 29.90±7.…”

“…with HBsAg positivity and 1 patient (1.9%) with anti-HCV positivity were detected whereas no patients with anti-HIV positivity were detected (23). Another study has reported that out of 4357 patients that consists mostly of non-intravenous substance users 94 (2.2%) were HBsAg positive; out of 4451 patients 27 (0.6%) were anti-HCV positive; and out of 4464 patients 10 (0.2%) were anti-HIV positive (24). Different studies have given anti-HCV positivity rates in cannabis users as 0% (19), 1.8% (18), 1.8% (25), and 0.6% (24).…”

“…Another study has reported that out of 4357 patients that consists mostly of non-intravenous substance users 94 (2.2%) were HBsAg positive; out of 4451 patients 27 (0.6%) were anti-HCV positive; and out of 4464 patients 10 (0.2%) were anti-HIV positive (24). Different studies have given anti-HCV positivity rates in cannabis users as 0% (19), 1.8% (18), 1.8% (25), and 0.6% (24). In the present study, the rate of anti-HCV positivity in cannabis users was similar to Karabulut et al (18) (27).…”

A Systematic Review of the Current Hepatitis B Viral Infection and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Situation in Mediterranean Countries

“…50.9% of HBsAg-positive subjects were females and the mean age was 40:8 ± 14:7 years [115]. Interestingly, screening of drug abusers between January 2013 and December 2017 demonstrated the existence of HBsAg in 94 out of 4357 patients (2.2%), aging between 14 and 71 years [116]. The prevalence of HBV genotypes in Turkey was screened from February 2001 to February 2002 on 158 patients (99 males and 59 females).…”

Laboratory Evaluation of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis from North East India

“…44 Similar finding was obtained later by other studies too. 45 In this context, one study from Saudi Arabia found distinct advantage of antigen-antibody combined ELISA in detecting HCV amongst PWID population with higher detection rate than antibody ELISA and comparable result with RNA detection method. 46 In PWIDs from resource-limited African setting, antigen detection method was found to be with comparable result with RNA detection in contrast to antibody detection.…”