title: Clinical, demographic, and epidemiologic characteristics of hepatitis B virus-infected patients at a tertiary public hospital in Presidente Prudente, State of São Paulo, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Few studies have addressed the primary characteristics of patients infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the general population, especially those living in small- and medium-sized cities in Brazil. We aimed to determine the clinical, demographic, and epidemiologic characteristics of patients diagnosed with HBV who were followed up at an infectious diseases clinic of a public hospital in State of São Paulo, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of patients aged >18 years and diagnosed with HBV infection between January 2000 and December 2013 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy-five patients were enrolled with male-female main infection-associated risk factors; 9 (12%) were co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 5 (6.7%) with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and 3 (4%) were co-infected with both HIV and HCV. Antiviral HBV therapy was applied in 21 (28%) patients and tenofovir monotherapy was the most prescribed medication. After approximately 2 years of antiviral treatment, the HBV-DNA viral load was undetectable in 12 (92.3%) patients and lower levels of alanine aminotransferase were found in these patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Over a 13-year interval, very few individuals infected with HBV were identified, highlighting the barriers for caring for patients with HBV in developing countries. New measures need to be implemented to complement curative practices.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiz Euribel
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Prestes-Carneiro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jessyka Thaiza Menezes
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Vieira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luiza Bellintani
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Isaac
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Departamento de Clínica Médica, Hospital Regional de Presidente Prudente, Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre Martins
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Portelinha Filho
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase