Characteristics of Hepatitis B Infection in a Sample of Omani Patients

Objectives: this study aimed to describe the demographic and virological characteristics of chronichepatitis b virus (hbv) infection in a sample of omani patients, and indirectly assess the efficacy of hepatitis b vaccination programmes and catch-up strategies. methods: a retrospective study was undertaken of all patients with chronic hbv infections evaluated and followed-up at the hepatology clinic of the armed forces hospital (afh), muscat, oman, between january 2009 and april 2011. results: a total of 154 patients met the inclusion criteria. the mean age of infected patients was 33 years with 72.7% being over 27 years. females constituted 47.7% of the patients. half of the cohort was referred either from the afh’s obstetric clinic (29.2%) or its blood bank (22.1%). a family history of chronic hbv infection was present in 70% of patients. a total of 95% had positive hepatitis b surface antigens, while only 5% had isolated total hepatitis b core antibodies. most patients (96%) were hepatitis b e-antigen-negative. the majority (77.9%) had low hbv dioribonucleic acid levels of <2,000 iu/ml. radiological features of liver cirrhosis were observed in 5%. patients requiring treatment were in the minority (9%). conclusion: almost 50% of the infected patients were female, the majority being of childbearing age. medical authorities in oman should consider enforcing a screening policy for all pregnant women using complete hepatitis b serological testing.