Understanding Hepatitis B in Eritrea A Deep Dive into Virological and Serological Markers

Introduction

Chronic Hepatitis B infection remains a major global health concern, especially in resource-limited settings like Eritrea. A recent study explores the virological and serological profiles of Eritrean patients, providing critical insights that may shape future treatment guidelines.
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Background of the Study

The study highlights that chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects a significant proportion of the Eritrean population, with transmission primarily through early childhood exposure. A notable finding was the high prevalence of HBeAg-negative patients—a marker indicating a less active phase of HBV replication, which can still pose long-term risks if undetected.

Key highlights include:

• 305 patients were studied from hospitals across Asmara, Eritrea.
• Mean patient age was 41.3 years, with 71.5% being male.
• Majority had normal liver enzyme levels, suggesting an inactive carrier state.

Serological and Virological Findings

• HBsAg-positive patients: 293 out of 305.
• Anti-HBc antibodies were present in 98.4% of cases, indicating prior or ongoing infection.
• Only 6.8% of patients were HBeAg-positive, while 82.6% were anti-HBe positive.
• A substantial number (41.6%) showed detectable HBV DNA, but only 22.86% had high-level replication (>2,000 IU/mL).

This indicates that a majority of patients are in the “low replicative phase” — a relatively stable stage of infection.

Read the full study at https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.ijcv.1001022

Broader Medical Perspectiv

The World Health Organization (WHO) identifies hepatitis B as one of the deadliest but preventable infections. Screening strategies involving HBsAg, anti-HBc, and anti-HBs markers remain the gold standard for identifying chronic infection or past exposure.
The WHO’s global hepatitis strategy aligns with the study’s findings, emphasizing early detection, vaccination, and cost-effective diagnostic tools in endemic regions.

Diagnostic Implications and Recommendations

• Normal ALT and AST levels were observed in over 90% of patients, but 75% of HBeAg-positive individuals had elevated ALT levels.
• High viral load (>200,000 IU/mL) was mostly observed in HBeAg-positive patients.
• These findings urge the need for periodic HBV marker testing to determine the phase of infection and potential treatment eligibility.

Public Health Significance

Eritrea’s HBV control efforts can benefit from:

• Expanded vaccination programs targeting high-risk groups.
• Enhanced access to molecular diagnostic tools.
• Creation of national treatment guidelines based on serological data.

A detailed analysis can be found in our main journal article. For related research in virology, visit https://www.clinvirologyjournal.com/.

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