Stage of disease in hepatitis B virus infection in Zambian adults is associated with large cell change but not well defined using classic biomarkers.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatocellular malignancy in young adults is a prominent feature of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in southern Africa. Here we report a cross-sectional study of liver pathology correlated with biomarkers in adults with HBV infection in Zambia.

Methods

We analysed liver biopsies from Zambian patients with persistent HBV infection.

Results

We analysed 104 patients with HBV infection and evidence of liver disease. We obtained liver biopsies from 53 adults; of these, 12 (23%) were hepatitis B e antigen seropositive. The genotype was evenly distributed between A and E. One biopsy showed malignancy. Stage was 3 or more in 11 of 52 (21%) biopsies free of malignancy and lobular inflammation was found in 50 (94%). Neither alanine aminotransferase (ALT) nor the γ-

SUBMITTER: Nsokolo B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5914341 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature