Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and Association Among Various Factors Affecting Management of Hepatitis B in Blood Donors of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Western India

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is a known indicator of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Also, levels of HBV DNA, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and liver biopsy support clinical decision making. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of HBsAg among blood donors in Western India, status of HBeAg in them, and association of HBeAg, DNA, ALT, and biopsy results. Methods: This was a prospective observational study. HBsAg positive blood donors were identified using blood bank records. Levels of DNA, ALT, status of HBeAg and liver histopathology were determined using standard methods. Association between different parameters was estimated using Fisher's exact test and multiple logistic regression model. Results: Out of 32518 blood donors screened, 234 (0.72%) were found to be HBsAg positive and 123 agreed to participate in the study. Eight patients (6.5%) were found to be HBeAg positive. High HBV DNA (>2000 IU/ml) was observed in 98 (79.7%) patients. 9 patients gave consent for biopsy and 8 of them had abnormal histopathological findings. We found lower odds (0.3901) of HBeAg positive status with lower DNA levels while, odds were higher with abnormal ALT levels (1.0144) and abnormal histopathology results (1.7519). ALT and DNA levels showed a trend of positive correlation. Conclusion: HBsAg prevalence was lower in blood donors and very few of them were HBeAg positive. Association study of DNA, ALT, HBeAg and biopsy status indicates that all of these parameters should be considered while treating chronic HBV.