Hepatitis B and C Seroprevalence in Leprosy Patients

Abstract

Objective: Leprosy is a contagious chronic granulomatous disease and commonly affects the eyes and the internal organs. Leprosy can be classified according to the level of immune response. Leprosy is a disease that is associated with defects in cellular immunity. This is why we have investigated the leprosy patients that were referred to our hospital for chronic hepatitis B and C co-infections. Methods: Fifty patients who were treated in the leprosy unit of Elazığ Research and Training hospital between the dates of June-December 2011 were enrolled to this descriptive study. Macro ELISA assay was performed for Hepatitis B,C and HIV. Results: Fifty patients who were treated in the leprosy unit of our hospital participated in the study. A total of 8% HBsAg presence was noted. A total of 16 Anti HCV presence was noted in the patient group. Anti HCV positivity was determined at seven of 14 patients with tuberculoid form leprosy (50%) and nine of 33 lepromatous leprosy form (27,2%). Conclusion: In conclusion, leprosy patients, especially lepromatous leprosy group, are immunologically vulnerable to HBV and HCV co-infections. Thus, physicians should be aware of HBV coinfections in these patients and education should be given to patients to increase their knowledge regarding risky situations for transmission of the disease. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2015;5(3): 114-118 Key words: Leprosy, Cellulary Immunity, Seroprevalance, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C