Lack of awareness of Hepatitis B screening and vaccination in high-risk groups

Background/aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination rates are insufficient in high-risk patients worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the screening, immunization, and vaccination rates in three high-risk groups for HBV infection: allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT), renal transplantation (RT), and chronic hepatitis C (CHC) groups. Materials and methods: The serological data of consecutive patients between 2014 and 2019 were reviewed using the hospital database. Results: The HBV screening rates were 100.0%, 90.4%, and 82.4% in the AHSCT, CHC, and RT groups, respectively (p = 0.003). The immunization rates against HBV through either previous exposure or vaccination were 79.5%, 71.7%, and 46.5% in the AHSCT, RT, and CHC groups, respectively (p < 0.001). The HBV vaccination rate was significantly low in the CHC group (71.5%, 69.0%, 34.6% in the AHSCT, RT, and CHC groups, respectively, p < 0.001). If patients lost their immunity due to immunosuppressive therapy were accounted, the vaccination rates increased to 95.2% in the AHSCT group and 72.9% in the RT group. The rate of annual screening for HBV status was 97.9% in the AHSCT group, but it was only 23.9% in the RT group. Conclusion: HBV screening and vaccination rates were significantly lower in the RT and CHC groups than in the AHSCT group.

Agenesis of gallbladder and multiple anomalies of the biliary tree in a patient with portal thrombosis: a case report.

A 55-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital because of splenomegaly. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography failed to demonstrate the gallbladder. The diagnosis of right portal vein thrombosis was established by Doppler ultrasonography, splenoportography and computed tomography angiography. To investigate the biliary tree and evaluate the effect on the biliary tree of portal changes, endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was performed. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography study revealed the absence of gallbladder, cystic duct and common bile duct together with the junction of the right and left hepatic ducts at the pancreatic head, with predominant left hepatic duct. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of multiple congenital anomalies of the extrahepatic biliary tree associated with right portal vein thrombosis. The presence of these rare pathologies in two viscera running together in a patient with right portal vein thrombosis is a very rare condition.