title: HBV and HCV serological markers in patients with the hepatosplenic form of mansonic schistosomiasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Blood transfusion is one of the major risk factors for the transmission of the hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses. However, there are no reports describing the endoscopic transmission of these viruses in patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of serological markers of HBV and HCV in patients with the hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis and evaluate the possible risk factors associated with these infections.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on 230 patients with hepatosplenic form of schistosomiasis who attended a university hospital in Recife, Northeastern Brazil, from February to August 2008. The patients answered a standardized questionnaire about risk factors. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-HBc total, anti-HBs, HBsAg, and anti-HCV using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence was 30% for anti-HBc total and/or HBsAg and 7.4% for anti-HCV. There was a higher frequency of the serological markers in females and in patients aged .50 years. A significant association was detected between the presence of anti-HCV and the receipt of six or more blood transfusions. There was no association of history and number of digestive endoscopies with the serological markers analyzed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a higher prevalence of serological markers for HBV and a lower prevalence of anti-HCV. Our results indicate that females and patients of an advanced age are the most affected categories and that patients that received multiple transfusions are at a higher probability of HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology Keizo Asami, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jéfferson Luis de Almeida
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Veridiana Sales Barbosa
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Tatiana Aguiar Santos
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vilella
authors.forename: Ana Lúcia C
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.forename: Maria Rosângela Cunha Duarte
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Coêlho
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008109:Liver Diseases, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012555:Schistosomiasis mansoni / Q000150:complications*; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000469:parasitology; D065227:Transfusion Reaction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies