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[Distribution of HBs-(Australia) antigen in progressive systemic scleroderma and other connective tissue disorders]
Insights
Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was found in 1.73% of patients with collagen diseases, similar to blood donors. These findings do not support HBsAg
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology and Immunology
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
Context:
- Collagen diseases and rheumatoid diseases encompass a range of autoimmune conditions affecting connective tissues.
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, indicated by Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), is a global health concern.
- Previous hypotheses suggested a potential ethiopathogenetic role of HBsAg in certain collagen diseases, particularly those involving vasculitis like polyarteritis nodosa.
Purpose:
- To investigate the prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients diagnosed with collagen diseases and rheumatoid diseases.
- To evaluate whether the presence of HBsAg in this patient cohort supports its ethiopathogenetic role in collagen diseases with vasculitis.
Summary:
- A study of 173 patients with collagen diseases and rheumatoid diseases found HBsAg in 1.73% of cases.
- This prevalence was comparable to that observed in healthy blood donors from the same geographic region (Naples).
- HBsAg was detected in patients with chronic active hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis, chronic active hepatitis and reticuloendotheliosis, and psoriatic arthritis, but not in other collagen diseases like Progressive Systemic Sclerosis.
Impact:
- The findings do not substantiate the hypothesis linking HBsAg to the pathogenesis of collagen diseases, especially those with severe vasculitis.
- This research contributes to understanding the relationship between viral infections and autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
- It suggests that HBsAg may not be a significant etiological factor in the development of collagen diseases beyond specific associations.
Abstract:
Of 173 patients, mostly suffering from collagen diseases and rheumatoid disease, the HBs antigen (HBsAg) was present in 1.73%. This figure is no higher than that observed among blood donors from the same area (Naples and surroundings). One HBsAg positive patient suffered from chronic active hepatitis and rheumatoid arthritis; another from chronic active hepatitis and a secondary type of reticuloendotheliosis; the third was one of seven patients with psoriatic arthritis. HBsAg was not found in any of 48 patients with other collagen diseases, including 22 patients with Progressive Systemic Sclerosis. These data do not support the hypothesis based on observations of polyarteritis nodosa that HBsAg plays an ethiopathogenetic role in collagen diseases with serious vasculitis.