High prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among tuberculosis patients with and without HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
To determine the prevalence and exposure factors associated with hepatitis B infection in tuberculosis patients with and without HIV type 1 coinfection, the presence of hepatitis B virus serological markers was investigated in a retrospective study. The seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus in patients with tuberculosis only was 14.6%, and in tuberculosis patients coinfected with HIV it increased to 35.8%. In patients with HIV and tuberculosis coinfection, homosexuality constituted the principal exposure factor, while in tuberculosis patients without HIV, a gradual increase in hepatitis B virus seroprevalence was noted along with increasing age. The results demonstrate that hepatitis B infection is highly prevalent in tuberculosis patients in Brazil and suggest that a vaccination program for the general population should be considered in order to prevent further hepatitis B infections.
Blal
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CA
Departamento de Micro-Imuno-Parasitologia, Serviço de Imunologia, Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz, Avenida Brasil 4365, 21045-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
Passos
S R L
SR
Horn
C
C
Georg
I
I
Bonecini-Almeida
M G
MG
Rolla
V C
VC
De Castro
L
L
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014505:Urban Population