title: Low prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in southern China.
abstract: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in southern China, SLE inpatients were retrospectively investigated for their HBV infection rate. Fifteen SLE patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were followed up. Furthermore, serum interferon (IFN)-α levels among SLE patients were detected by ELISA. Results showed estimated HBsAg-positive rate was 10.74% in general population. The HBsAg-positive rate was lower in SLE patients compared with controls (2.33 vs. 9.57%, P < 0.01). Interestingly, 13 out of 15 SLE patients converted from HBsAg positive to HBV surface antibody (HBsAb) positive even under glucocorticoid therapy. In addition, we found significantly increased IFN-α levels in SLE patients.The prevalence of HBV infection in SLE patients was lower than that in sex- and age-matched non-SLE controls in southern China. The characteristic IFN signatures in SLE may favor the subsequent clearance of HBV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, 600 Tianhe Road, 510630, Guangzhou, China. jijunzhao1981@163.com
authors.forename: Jijun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Minli
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Meirong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Caisheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Jieruo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens