Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: A multicenter countrywide study

dc.contributor.authorYilmaz, Neslihan
dc.contributor.authorKaradag, Omer
dc.contributor.authorKimyon, Gezmis
dc.contributor.authorYazici, Ayten
dc.contributor.authorYilmaz, Sema
dc.contributor.authorKalyoncu, Umut
dc.contributor.authorKasifoglu, Timucin
dc.contributor.authorTemiz, Hakan
dc.contributor.authorBaysal, Birol
dc.contributor.authorTozun, Nurdan
dc.date.accessioned2023-02-21T12:40:16Z
dc.date.available2023-02-21T12:40:16Z
dc.date.issued2014-01-01
dc.description.abstractObjective: Immunosuppressive therapies, especially tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitors, are frequently used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). These therapies can induce viral reactivation in concurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV)- or hepatitis C virus (HCV)positive patients. On the other hand, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections is not exactly known in RA and AS patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in RA and AS patients. Material and Methods: A group of 1517 RA and 886 AS consecutive patients followed by six different rheumatology outpatient clinics of Turkey were recruited in this study. The prevalence of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) and HCV antibody (anti-HCV) were retrospectively investigated. Results: The mean age was 49.0 +/- 13.2 years in RA and 37.3 +/- 10.5 years in AS patients. HBsAg prevalence was 35 (2.3\%) in RA and 27 (3\%) in AS patients. Anti-HCV prevalence was 17 (1.1\%) and 10 (1.1\%), respectively. In the RA group, both HBsAg and anti-HCV positive patients were older than negative ones (p < 0.05), and the highest prevalence was found in those 60-69 years (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In previous national data, the prevalence of HBsAg has been reported as 3.99\% and shown to increase with age. In this study we have found a lower HBV infection prevalence in both RA and AS patients according to Turkish national data. This result may explain by being younger age of our patients. In another conclusion, lower prevalence could be related to, joint complaints may less consulted to Rheumatologist in HBV positive.
dc.description.issue2
dc.description.issueJUN
dc.description.pages51-54
dc.description.volume1
dc.identifier.doi10.5152/eurjrheumatol.2014.018
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/11443/2599
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.5152/eurjrheumatol.2014.018
dc.identifier.wosWOS:000218657100002
dc.publisherAVES
dc.relation.ispartofEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
dc.subjectHepatitis
dc.subjectrheumatoid arthritis
dc.subjectankylosing spondylitis
dc.titlePrevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: A multicenter countrywide study
dc.typeArticle

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