Microbiologia Médica e Diagnóstico

Hepatitis B Viral Load (HBV-DNA) with Age and Sex Stratifications in Bangladeshi People

Abstract

Moyen Uddin Pk, Rabby A, Nahar Begum SMK, Kabir Y, Rahman M and Absar N

Background: Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) is used for the detection of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to predict disease progression.

Objectives: The main objective of this study was to observe the pattern of HBV viral load levels among people in terms of age and sex distribution in Bangladesh.

Method: Blood specimen was collected from 585 objects with HBsAg Positive and assayed for the quantity of hepatitis B virus using PCR based technique.

Results: It is found from the study that the mean viral load was 353,500,000 DNA copies/ml for 20-35 age group, 249,300,000 DNA copies/ml for 35-50 age group and 104,800,000 DNA copies/ml for 50-65 age group. The median HBV viral loads for male and female were 58,494 and 103,287 DNA copies/ml, respectively.

Conclusion: High viral load was observed in the 21-35 and 36-50 age group while females are at most risk due to HBV infection as their viral load is higher compared to male.