title: Incidence of acute hepatitis B in patients with spinal cord injury.
abstract: METHODS
  Retrospective case survey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine incidence and clinical characteristics of hepatitis B infection in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Inpatient clinic within a physical medicine and rehabilitation hospital specialized in rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 161 patients with SCI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients' records were investigated and the status of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV), anti-hepatitis B surface antigen positivity, alanine aminotransferase levels, duration of hospitalization and cost were recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Incidence of acute hepatitis B.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients were diagnosed with acute hepatitis B on the first hospitalization for rehabilitation. A total of 11 patients (4.2%) were HBsAg positive with a previously established diagnosis of hepatitis B virus infection, 1 patient (0.4%) was anti-HCV positive. After a follow-up of 6 months, three of the acute hepatitis B patients progressed into chronic hepatitis B stage. In acute hepatitis B patients' initiation of the rehabilitation was delayed, duration of hospitalization was increased.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  After SCI, patients are at high risk of acute hepatitis B infection. A high rate of chronicity may be associated with impaired immune response, secondary to neurological deficit. Screening and vaccination protocols may prevent the spread of the hepatitis B infection, healthcare losses and financial loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Training and Research Hospital of the Ministry of Health, Ankara, Turkey. burcuhazer@gmail.com
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: N B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Ozer
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Selcuk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kurtaran
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akyüz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D055815:Young Adult