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Hepatic Histological Findings in Apparently Healthy Persons Sero-positive for Hepatitis B virus
Abstract
Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 350 million persons worldwide with its attendant consequences of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. The degree of liver damage in asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen positive native Africans is unknown. We report hepatic histological findings in apparently healthy Nigerians infected with HBV.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of apparently healthy Nigerians (61 males and 30 females) chronically infected with HBV aged 33±10 years who had liver biopsies done at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Results: A lanine transferase (ALT) was elevated in 36.5% and serum albumin was low in 9.9% of the subjects respectively. Fifty nine subjects (64.8%) had evidence of chronic hepatitis, with 29 (49.2%) having histologic activity index (HAI) > 7. Normal histology was present in 27 (29.6%) subjects, three (4.6%) had frank cirrhosis and two (2.3%) had hepatocellular carcinoma with one on the background of cirrhosis. Similar proportions of subjects with 2 normal and elevated ALT levels (50% vs. 51% respectively) had HAI scores > 7; X = 0.1, p =0.92.
Conclusion: Our study shows that the vast majority of incidentally detected asymptomatic individuals infected with HBV have significant liver disease. Policies aimed at screening, evaluation, treatment and prevention is mandatory in our communities.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of apparently healthy Nigerians (61 males and 30 females) chronically infected with HBV aged 33±10 years who had liver biopsies done at the Jos University Teaching Hospital.
Results: A lanine transferase (ALT) was elevated in 36.5% and serum albumin was low in 9.9% of the subjects respectively. Fifty nine subjects (64.8%) had evidence of chronic hepatitis, with 29 (49.2%) having histologic activity index (HAI) > 7. Normal histology was present in 27 (29.6%) subjects, three (4.6%) had frank cirrhosis and two (2.3%) had hepatocellular carcinoma with one on the background of cirrhosis. Similar proportions of subjects with 2 normal and elevated ALT levels (50% vs. 51% respectively) had HAI scores > 7; X = 0.1, p =0.92.
Conclusion: Our study shows that the vast majority of incidentally detected asymptomatic individuals infected with HBV have significant liver disease. Policies aimed at screening, evaluation, treatment and prevention is mandatory in our communities.
