Seroepidemiology of Hepatitis B in Multiple Sclerosis Patients: A Case-Control Study

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Professor, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

2 Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

3 Resident of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

4 Student of Medicine, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

5 MSc in Epidemiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

6 Resident, Department of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Background: The etiology of multiple sclerosis (MS) is still not fully understood. Infectious agents are believed to play a role in the development of this multifactorial disease. The aim of this study was comparison of HBsAg and HBsAb in multiple sclerosis patients and control group. Methods: We conducted a case-control study within the Multiple Sclerosis Database in Isfahan. Forty multiple sclerosis patients and forty people of their neighbors (as control group) were include in the study. We evaluate the plasma levels of HBsAg and HBsAb in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS16 using Independent sample t-test and chi-square test. We considered P < 0.05 as significance. Findings: Plasma levels of HBsAb were positive in 25% of all multiple sclerosis subjects vs 15% of subjects in control group (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings indicate no association between plasma levels of HBsAg and multiple sclerosis. Keywords: Seroepidemiology, Hepatitis B, Multiple Sclerosis.