Abstract

PREVALENCE OF HBeAg IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS B PATIENTS IN KHARTOUM, SUDAN

Shamsoun Kafi, Abosufyan Salama* and Sarra Alfadil

Abstract

Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection is a global health problem and may lead to chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancercinoma (HCC). We studied the prevalence of hepatitis B virus e antigen (HBeAg) among individuals determined to be HBV surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+). A total of 127 HBsAg+ patients were determined by Immunochromatography test method, participated in the study. They were tested for HbeAg, using ELISA method. The 127 patients were grouped in to 88 asymptomatic carriers(ASC) and 39 chronic hepatitis(CH). The mean ALT of the ASC and CH groups were 22.10 ± 7.92 and 68.18 ± 56.90 respectively. Of total patients, 25(19.7%) were found to be HBeAg-positive giving an overall prevalence of 19.7%. Of those 25 individuals, 17 (68%) were males. According to the results of this study almost one out every five patients HBsAg+ is positive for HBeAg indicating that the virus is actively replicating increasing the risk of HBV-transmission. HBV vaccination and treatment programmes are therefore recommended to avoid the possible devastating effects of HBV infection.

Keywords: HBeAg; HBsAg; Hepatitis B virus; Liver Cirrhosis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Sudan.