title: Gender disparity in infections of Hepatitis B virus.
abstract: Gender differences prevail in the infections caused by the Hepatitis B virus. Four hundred and seventy two patients with HBV infection were selected for the study. The frequency of hepatic infection in males was 79.5% (n=375) and in females 20.5% (n=97), with a male to female ratio of 3.8:1. Out of 472 patients, 49% had acute hepatitis, 26% were carriers, 18% had chronic hepatitis, 6% had cirrhosis and 3% patients had hepatocellular carcinoma. Male dominance was found to be consistent in all categories of patients. When the patients were divided into groups according to age, the male to female ratio increased during the reproductive years. There may be an influence of estrogen in the protection and defense of hepatic cells against the development of chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ziauddin University, Clifton, Karachi. baigsaeeda@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Saeeda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baig
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004958:Estradiol