Prevalence of Hepatitis B virus serological groups in rheumatoid arthritis and association of previous hepatitis B virus infection with demographic data and parenteral therapies

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study is to determine the frequency of Hepatitis b virus (HBV) serological groups in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to compare the demographic characteristics and frequency of parenteral therapies between patient groups with and without previous HBV infection.
 Methods: Charts of RA patients were examined retrospectively. HBsAg, anti-HBc IgG, and anti-HBs test results were screened. All participants were divided into 3 serological groups (patients naive to HBV infection, previous HBV infection, vaccinated). Those with previous HBV infection were further divided into 3 serological subgroups (naturally immune, anti-HBc IgG positive only, chronic HBV infection). Findings were compared between RA patients with and without previous HBV infection.
 Results: Four hundred and fifty-one patients (female/male: 343/108) were included. The prevalence of patients naive to HBV infection, with previous HBV infection and vaccinated were 59.4%, 33.7%, and 6.9%, respectively. The prevalence of patients with naturally immune, anti-HBc IgG positive only, and chronic HBV infection were 25.7%, 4.4%, and 3.5%, respectively. Age in RA patients with and without previous HBV infection was 60.8±12.4 and 56.7±14.2 years, respectively(p