We investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease in a large cohort of HBsAg-positive patients, in Central Italy, by collecting a screening form with demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Overall, 737 HBsAg-positive cases were included (70% male; median age 52 years): 30% were inactive HBsAg carriers, 51% had chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 19% had HBV-related cirrhosis. Patients from non-European Union (EU) countries (n = 65) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of HBeAg-positive infection and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection than patients of Italian origin. Therefore, as immigration from non-EU countries continues to grow, we can expect a change in the landscape of HBV-related disease in our area.
Patterns of chronic hepatitis B in Central Italy: a cross-sectional study / P., Piccolo; I., Lenci; C., Telesca; D., Di Paolo; F., Bandiera; L., De Melia; O., Sorbello; G., Renier; G. L., Ricci; L., Nosotti; M., Romano; DE SANTIS, Adriano; Levrero, Massimo; G., Antonucci; M. A., Longo; B. E., Annicchiarico; M., Angelico; Furlan, Caterina; For The Hep B., Free Network Investigators. - In: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. - ISSN 1101-1262. - STAMPA. - 20:6(2010), pp. 711-713. [10.1093/eurpub/ckp168]
Patterns of chronic hepatitis B in Central Italy: a cross-sectional study
DE SANTIS, Adriano;LEVRERO, Massimo;FURLAN, Caterina;
2010
Abstract
We investigated the patterns of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related disease in a large cohort of HBsAg-positive patients, in Central Italy, by collecting a screening form with demographic, clinical and laboratory data. Overall, 737 HBsAg-positive cases were included (70% male; median age 52 years): 30% were inactive HBsAg carriers, 51% had chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and 19% had HBV-related cirrhosis. Patients from non-European Union (EU) countries (n = 65) were significantly younger, had a higher prevalence of HBeAg-positive infection and hepatitis delta virus (HDV) co-infection than patients of Italian origin. Therefore, as immigration from non-EU countries continues to grow, we can expect a change in the landscape of HBV-related disease in our area.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.