ABSTRACT
Introduction: Many studies have reported on the association between human coronary artery disease (CAD) and certain persistent bacterial and viral infections. Currently, it is unclear whether hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the risk of the atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between hepatitis B virus infection and angiography-proven CAD.
Materials and Methods: Sera from 5004 patients who underwent coronary angiography were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay at Madani Heart Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Results: Our study population comprised 66% male and 34% female, with an age range of 36 to 86 years. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity tended to be higher in CAD patients than in those without CAD (3.28% versus 2.17%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Our results suggest that hepatitis B virus infection is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in this population.Coronary artery disease (CAD), also called coronary heart disease, is the leading cause of death for both men and women. CAD is usually caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (the hardening of the arteries) is the most common form of arteriosclerosis, in which the walls of arteries become thicker and less elastic.
This article is available only as a PDF. Please click on “Download PDF” on top to view the full article.
