HBV Infection in Italian and Non-Italian Patients in Northern Italy
Massimo De Paschale, Maria Teresa Manco, Luisa Belvisi, Carlo Magnani, Tiziana Re, Paolo Viganò, Sara Biagiotti, Francesca Capelli, Antonino Mazzone, Maria Pia Baldacci, Aldo Ferrara, Anna Lisa Neri, Carlo Maria Guastoni, Riccardo Armando Bonazzina, Bruno Brando, Pierangelo Clerici
Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research · pp. 1–12 · Published 8 Dec 2012
10.9734/BJMMR/2013/1981Abstract
Aims: The introduction of HBV vaccination in Italy has reduced the incidence and prevalence of HBV infection. However, increasing immigration from countries in which HBV is endemic has led to a wave of new HBsAg-positive subjects and their clinical impact needs evaluation. We compared the serological, clinical and epidemiological data relating to Italian and non-Italian subjects referred to a hospital in Northern Italy. Study Design: We retrospectively analysed the laboratory and clinical records of 488 subjects, including 107 (21.9%) non-Italians, in order to find data concerning clinical diagnoses, possible routes of infection, anti-HCV and anti-HDV antibodies. Results: The differences in gender distribution and mean age between the non-Italian and Italian patients were statistically significant (p<.001). There were no significant differences in the prevalence of anti-HCV (2.9% vs 4.9%, p=.86) or anti-HDV (4.7% vs 5.0%, p=.89) co-infection, or the presence of HBeAg in chronic infection. There were no differences in the rates of acute (3.3% vs 5.1%; p=.68) or chronic infections (96.7% vs 94.9%; p=.68) infections, but there were statistically significant differences (p<.001) in the rates of prevalent (54.5% vs 85.3%) and incident cases (45.5% vs 14.7%). The differences in the rates of asymptomatic (70.6% vs 34.9%) and symptomatic patients (29.4% vs 65.1%) were also statistically significant (p<.001). The only significant differences in terms of risk factors related to transfusions (0% vs 6.8%; p=.04), and vertical/perinatal transmission (44.1% vs 6.8%; p<.001). Conclusion: The non-Italian HBsAg-positive subjects were mainly women and younger than their Italian counterparts, and had a recent diagnosis. They were predominantly asymptomatic and probably considered themselves healthy and fit to emigrate. Perinatal transmission among non-Italians is still an important risk factor that reflects the epidemiological situation of their countries of origin.
Cited by 1
1 citation reported by external sources — individual citing-article records aren't available to list yet.
Related research
- Seroprevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV among Prisoners in Sokoto, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B among HIV Positive Patients Receiving Haart at Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, Benue State: A Cohort Study — shares topic coverage
- Undiagnosed Chronic Hepatitis B Infection and HIV Type 1 Drug Resistance Profile in AIDS Patients Receiving Tenofovir-containing Antiretroviral Regimens: Considerations for Monitoring Resistant HIV Variants during Treatment — shares topic coverage
- Evaluation of CD4 T Lymphocyte Cell Levels among Hepatitis B, C and E Viruses Negative Individuals in Ibadan, Southwestern Nigeria — shares topic coverage
- Missed Serologic Diagnosis of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Blood Donors in Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, Nigeria — shares topic coverage
Article metrics
Real usage data collected on this platform.
0
Page views
0
PDF downloads
0
Outbound clicks
1
Citations
Views by country
Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".
No views recorded yet.
Traffic sources
Referring site, by host.
No traffic recorded yet.
Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.