HBV and HCV Seroprevalence in Rheumatology Patients Using Biological Drugs

• Main Authors: Mehmet Ali Balcı, Nazım Ekin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dicle University Medical School 2020-12-01
• Series: Dicle Medical Journal
• Subjects: hepatitis b; hepatitis c; biological therapy.
• Online Access: http://diclemedj.org/upload/sayi/79/Dicle%20Med%20J-04421.pdf

Objective: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are a global public health problem. Biological drugs can cause reactivation of HBV infection in patients with chronic HBV carrier or occult HBV infection. Likewise, it is known that it can cause reactivation of HCV infection in patients who are positive for Anti HCV. In our study, we aimed to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in rheumatology patients receiving biological therapy. Method: 582 patients who applied to Diyarbakır Health Sciences University Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital Rheumatology Polyclinic between 01/09/2017 and 01/09/2020 and using biological treatment were included in the study. Demographic and laboratory characteristics were recorded retrospectively. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS V22.0 (IBM SPSS Statistics, Armonk, NY) software. Results: A total of 582 patients, 342 (58.8%) female and 240 (41.2%) male, were included in our study. Of the patients included in the study, 290 (49.8%) were diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 213 (36.6%) rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and 23 (4%) psoriatic arthritis (PsA). HBsAg 1.4%, Anti-HBs 51.7%, Anti-HBc IgG 31.4% and Anti-HCV 0.3% were positive. Looking according to the diagnosis; In AS; HBsAg 1.7%, Anti-HBs 53.1%, Anti-HBc IgG 38.9%, Anti-HCV 0.0%, in RA; HBsAg was 1.4%, Anti-HBs 51.9%, Anti-HBc IgG 41.7%, Anti-HCV 0.5% were detected. Conclusion: In our country, HBV and HCV infections are still seen at medium endemic levels. Since biological treatments may cause reactivation of HBV and HCV infections, screening, prophylaxis and treatment of these infections before biological treatment still maintains its importance.