Prevalence of hepatitis B and C infections in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis: A multicenter countrywide study

Yilmaz N., KARADAĞ Ö., Kimyon G., YAZICI A., YILMAZ S., KALYONCU U., ...More

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY, vol.1, no.2, pp.51-54, 2014 (ESCI) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 1 Issue: 2
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.5152/eurjrheumatol.2014.018
  • Journal Name: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Page Numbers: pp.51-54
  • Keywords: Hepatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective: Immunosuppressive therapies, especially tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitors, are frequently used in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). These therapies can induce viral reactivation in concurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV)- or hepatitis C virus (HCV)positive patients. On the other hand, the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections is not exactly known in RA and AS patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in RA and AS patients.