title: Clinical and epidemiological profile of female blood donors with positive serology for viral hepatitis B.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since women are frequently the minority among blood donors worldwide, studies evaluating this population usually reflect male features. We assessed the features of female blood donors with positive serology for HBV and compared them with those of men.METHODS The study comprised consecutive blood donors referred to a specialized liver disease center to be evaluated due to HBsAg- and/or anti-HBc-positive tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study encompassed 1,273 individuals, 219 (17.2%) of whom were referred due to positive HBsAg test and 1,054 (82.8%) due to reactive anti-HBc test. Subjects' mean age was 36.8±10.9 years, and 28.7% were women. Female blood donors referred for positive HBsAg screening tests demonstrated higher prevalence of healthcare workers (9.3% vs 2.5%) and lower prevalence of sexual risk behaviors (15.1% vs 41.1%) and alcohol abuse (1.9% vs 19.8%) compared to men. Women had lower ALT (0.6 vs 0.8×ULN), AST (0.6 vs 0.8×ULN), direct bilirubin (0.2 vs 0.3mg/dL), and alkaline phosphatase (0.5 vs 0.6×ULN) levels and higher platelet count (223,380±50,293 vs 195,020±53,060/mm3). Women also had a higher prevalence of false-positive results (29.6% vs 17.0%). No differences were observed with respect to liver biopsies. Female blood donors referenced for reactive anti-HBc screening tests presented similar clinical, epidemiological, and biochemical characteristics to those reported for positive HBsAg screening tests and similarly had a higher prevalence of false-reactive results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared to men, female blood donors with positive HBsAg and/or anti-HBc screening tests demonstrated higher prevalence of professional risk and false-positive results and reduced alteration of liver chemistry.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Estudos em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Janaína Luz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Narciso-Schiavon
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Estudos em Gastroenterologia e Hepatologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo de Lucca
authors.initials: Lde L
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Gastroenterologia, Setor de Hepatites, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberto José de
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Carvalho-Filho
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Gastroenterologia, Setor de Hepatites, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Christine Takemi
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Emori
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Gastroenterologia, Setor de Hepatites, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando Akio
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Maryia
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Hematologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Orlando
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Bordin
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Gastroenterologia, Setor de Hepatites, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio Eduardo Benedito
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Divisão de Gastroenterologia, Setor de Hepatites, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Gomes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ferraz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M