title: Characteristics of hepatitis B infection in a sample of omani patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to describe the demographic and virological characteristics of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in a sample of Omani patients, and indirectly assess the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccination programmes and catch-up strategies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was undertaken of all patients with chronic HBV infections evaluated and followed-up at the Hepatology Clinic of the Armed Forces Hospital (AFH), Muscat, Oman, between January 2009 and April 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 154 patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of infected patients was 33 years with 72.7% being over 27 years. Females constituted 47.7% of the patients. Half of the cohort was referred either from the AFH's Obstetric Clinic (29.2%) or its Blood Bank (22.1%). A family history of chronic HBV infection was present in 70% of patients. A total of 95% had positive hepatitis B surface antigens, while only 5% had isolated total hepatitis B core antibodies. Most patients (96%) were hepatitis B e-antigen-negative. The majority (77.9%) had low HBV dioribonucleic acid levels of <2,000 IU/ml. Radiological features of liver cirrhosis were observed in 5%. Patients requiring treatment were in the minority (9%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Almost 50% of the infected patients were female, the majority being of childbearing age. Medical authorities in Oman should consider enforcing a screening policy for all pregnant women using complete hepatitis B serological testing.
authors: Department of Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital, Muscat, Oman;
authors: Khalid
authors: K
authors: Al-Naamani
authors: Ali
authors: A
authors: Al-Maqbali
authors: Siham
authors: S
authors: Al-Sinani
keywords: Blood Donors; Hepatitis B Vaccines; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis B, prevention and control; Oman
references: Saudi Med J. 2005 May;26(5):819-23
references: 15951876
references: Nat Med. 1996 Oct;2(10):1104-8
references: 8837608
references: J Med Virol. 2002 May;67(1):20-6
references: 11920813
references: J Infect Dis. 1994 Aug;170(2):358-61
references: 7518488
references: J Pediatr. 1987 Dec;111(6 Pt 1):877-81
references: 3681555
references: Hepatology. 1988 Jul-Aug;8(4):766-70
references: 2968945
references: Hepatology. 2000 Nov;32(5):1106-10
references: 11050062
references: J Infect. 2006 Mar;52(3):202-6
references: 16271396
references: J Trop Pediatr. 1995 Jun;41(3):174-6
references: 7636938
references: Hepatology. 2009 May;49(5 Suppl):S45-55
references: 19399792
references: N Engl J Med. 1997 Dec 11;337(24):1733-45
references: 9392700
references: Ann Intern Med. 1986 Sep;105(3):356-60
references: 2943202
references: Transfus Clin Biol. 2004 Feb;11(1):18-25
references: 14980545
references: MMWR Recomm Rep. 2005 Dec 23;54(RR-16):1-31
references: 16371945
references: Ann Intern Med. 1984 Jul;101(1):34-40
references: 6233921
references: J Viral Hepat. 2004 Mar;11(2):97-107
references: 14996343
references: Blood. 2003 Mar 15;101(6):2419-25
references: 12393691
references: J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Apr;23(4):512-20
references: 18397482
references: J Hepatol. 2006 Oct;45(4):529-38
references: 16879891
references: Ann Saudi Med. 1994 Jul;14(4):312-5
references: 17586926
references: J Virol Methods. 1987 Aug;17(1-2):69-79
references: 3312269
references: Mod Pathol. 1999 Jun;12(6):599-603
references: 10392636
references: Med Princ Pract. 2006;15(5):368-72
references: 16888395
references: Dig Dis. 2010;28(1):116-25
references: 20460899
references: Hepat Mon. 2012 Aug;12(8):e6126
references: 23087749
references: Int J Epidemiol. 2005 Dec;34(6):1329-39
references: 16249217
references: Lancet Infect Dis. 2002 Jul;2(7):395-403
references: 12127351
references: Hepatology. 2010 Nov;52(5):1600-10
references: 20815025
references: Clin Infect Dis. 2007 May 1;44(9):1161-9
references: 17407033
references: Euro Surveill. 2006 Jun 08;11(6):E060608.3
references: 16819119
references: N Engl J Med. 1997 Jun 26;336(26):1855-9
references: 9197213
references: J Clin Gastroenterol. 2004 Nov-Dec;38(10 Suppl 3):S158-68
references: 15602165
references: Pathol Biol (Paris). 2010 Aug;58(4):296-300
references: 20116181
references: Am J Med. 1973 Dec;55(6):762-71
references: 4753641
references: Clin Cancer Res. 2005 Nov 1;11(21):7953-7
references: 16278421
references: J Med Virol. 2004 Jun;73(2):200-7
references: 15122793
references: Ann Intern Med. 1987 Sep;107(3):335-7
references: 3039886