Hepatitis B and Schistosoma co-infection in a non-endemic area.
Schistosomiasis is related to the development of liver fibrosis and portal hypertension. Chronic co-infection with HBV and Schistosoma has been associated in endemic areas with a higher risk for a more severe liver disease. However, no studies have assessed the real importance of this co-infection in non-endemic regions. This is a retrospective observational study of Sub-Saharan immigrants attending between October 2004 and February 2014. Patients with chronic HBV infection with and without evidence of schistosomal infection were compared. Epidemiological, analytical, and microbiological data were analysed. Likelihood of liver fibrosis based on APRI and FIB-4 indexes was established. A total of 507 patients were included in the study, 170 (33.5 %) of them harbouring evidence of schistosome infection. No differences were found in transaminase, GGT, and ALP levels. In fibrosis tests, a higher proportion of patients with HVB and S. mansoni detection reached possible fibrosis scores (F > 2) when compared to patients without schistosomiasis: 17.4 vs 14.2 % and 4.3 % vs 4.2 % (using high sensitivity and high specificity cut-offs respectively), although differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.69, p = 0.96). For possible cirrhosis (F4) score, similar results were observed: 4.3 % of co-infected patients vs 2.1 % of mono-infected ones, p = 0.46. According to these datas, in non-endemic regions the degree of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B is not substantially modified by schistosome co-infection.
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain. jacuencag@gmail.com.
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Cuenca-Gómez
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain.|CEMyRI (Center for the Study of Migration and Intercultural Relations of the University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain.
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Salas-Coronas
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain.
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Lozano-Serrano
Tropical Medicine Unit, Distrito Poniente, Almería, Spain.
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Vázquez-Villegas
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain.
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MJ
Soriano-Pérez
Digestive Service, Hospital de Poniente, El Ejido, Almería, Spain.
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Estévez-Escobar
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain.
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Villarejo-Ordóñez
Tropical Medicine Unit. Hospital de Poniente, Carretera de Almerimar s/n, El Ejido, Almería, 07400, Spain.|CEMyRI (Center for the Study of Migration and Intercultural Relations of the University of Almeria, Almeria, Spain.
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Cabezas-Fernández
D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D000818:Animals; D060085:Coinfection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012552:Schistosomiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult