Analysis of the Results of Hepatitis B and C Molecular Tests in Southern Iran from 2018 to 2022, the Possibility of Hepatitis C Genotype Change in the Region.

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses in patients at the Shahid Motahari Clinic in Shiraz, Iran, from 2018 to 2022 using molecular diagnostic tests.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients who underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) molecular tests for the diagnosis of hepatitis B and C at the Shahid Motahari Clinic in Shiraz. A total of 538 PCR tests for hepatitis B and 457 tests for hepatitis C were administered. Among them, 69 patients diagnosed with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 60 patients with HCV were selected for examination, and their clinical data were collected.

RESULTS

The prevalence of HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the study population was 17.28% and 20.56%, respectively. Most infected patients were male, married, and of Fars ethnic background. The main risk factors for HBV were extramarital sex and a family history of hepatitis B or C, whereas the main risk factors for HCV included drug injection, blood transfusion, imprisonment, tattooing, and extramarital sex. The findings revealed that the two most common HCV subtypes were subtype 3b (72%) and subtype 1a (28%).

CONCLUSION

The results showed that 17.28% of participants had HBV and 20.56% had HCV. The majority of those with HBV or HCV were male, Fars, and married. Patients with HBV had a high incidence of family members with hepatitis B/C, whereas those with HCV had a high incidence of transfusion, drug injection, tattooing, and imprisonment. The most common HCV subtypes were 3b and 1a.