Renal function status of Nigerian patients infected with Hepatitis B virus

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