Renal function status of Nigerian patients infected with Hepatitis B virus

Abstract

v>In Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in liver disease andhepatocellular carcinoma. It has also been implicated in a variety of renal diseases. This relationship was investigated in hepatitis Bvirus patients in Nigeria where the infection is highly endemic. Fifty hepatitis B positive patients (aged 27.3 ± 7.5 years) and 50electrolyte, ucontrol subjects (aged 25.1 ± 3.6 years) were recruited in this study. Random blood sample was drawn from all subjects. Serumrea and creatinine were measured using standard laboratory methods. Serum potassium concentration was higherbicarbonate and chloride(5.16 ± 2.30, p<0.05) in hepatitis B carriers compared to controls (4.25 ± 0.5). There was an inverse correlation between(r = -0.67, p<0.01) in HBV patients. Results from this study showed a possible relationship betweenhepatitis B infection and insufficient renal function.