[Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Sub-Saharan immigrants in Almería (Spain)]. / Infección por virus de hepatitis B (VHB) en inmigrantes subsaharianos en Almería.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: There is scant information available in Spain regarding virological markers and clinical status in Sub-Saharan patients infected with HVB. METHODS: A cross-sectional and retrospective study of virological markers and clinical status of HBV infection in 510 adult patients from Sub-Saharan Africa, not co-infected with HIV, most of them from West Africa countries. RESULTS: A total of 90.8% of patients had markers of HBV infection and 137 (26.9%) were HBsAg positive. Among patients with HBsAg positive, 55.9% were chronic inactive carriers. The predominant genotype was E. CONCLUSIONS: The study shows a high prevalence of both markers of HBV infection and of chronic hepatitis B in immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa.