Prevalence of Hepatitis B Viral Markers among Suspected Liver Disease Patients Attending Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Aim: To determine the different outcomes of HBV infections among patients attending Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in Lagos University Teaching Hospital Idi Araba and College of Medicine University of Lagos, between June 2010- July 2011.

Methodology: A total of 87 samples were collected from suspected liver disease patients aged between 11 and 74 at the gastroenterology clinic, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba. These were screened for hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBcIgM) using DIA. PRO DIAGNOSTIC BIOPROBES Srl.

Results: Out of the number screened, 39 (44.8%) were positive for at least one marker and 17 (19.5%), 3 (3.5%) and 19 (17.5%) were positive for HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcIgM respectively.

Among the positive research participants, 18 (20.7%) and 5 (5.8%) were positive for males and females respectively and the difference between them was statistically significant (P<.001).

The highest prevalence rate of (18.4%) was recorded within the age group 31-40. On the basis of sex, the prevalence rate was higher in males 14 (16.1%) than females 2 (2.3%).

Moreover, the prevalence of the markers was stratified by sex and HBcIgM had the highest prevalence among the respondents with the males having higher prevalence 15 (17.2%) than female 4 (4.6%).

Conclusion: This study suggests that screening for all the three markers is a useful tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of HBV infection. More importantly, efforts should be directed at early detection of HBV infection, other agents and effect of such other agents on the progression of HBV infection.