Abstract

Objective: To find out the positivity for serum hepatitis B core antibody in patients with persistently raised alanine aminotransferase having negative hepatitis B surface antigen and anti-hepatitis C virus antibody status.

Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study

Place and Duration of Study: Bilal Medical Trust Hospital, Buner from -1st January 2016 to 31st December 2019.

Methodology: Two hundred and sixty seven cases were included in this study.

Results: One hundred and fifty six (58.4%) were males and 111 (41.6%) were females. One hundred and sixty four (61.4%) cases were positive for anti-hepatitis B core antibody and 103 (38.6%) were negative for anti- hepatitis B core antibody. Anti- hepatitis B core antibody was positive in 57.9% (n=95) males and 42.1% (n=69) females, with a statistical significance, having a p-value of .044. Alanine aminotransferase was raised, (>30 IU/L), in all cases positive for anti-hepatitis B core antibody (61.4%, n=164).

Conclusion: The hepatitis B core alone serological status with raised alanine aminotransferase should warrant clinicians to investigate these patients further by advising polymerase chain reaction for hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid.

Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg), Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), alanine aminotransferase (ALT)