Association of Vitamin D Deficiency with Hepatitis B and C Virus Infection
Darshan Kumar
Department Medical Unit -1, Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Muhammad Umar Khan
National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology (NIDE), Dow University Hospital, Ojha Campus, Karachi, Pakistan.
Syed Mohammad Kashif
Department Medical Unit -5, Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Majid Ahmed Shaikh
Department Medical Unit -1, Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Zunaira Nawaz
Department Medical Unit -1, Dr. Ruth K. M. Pfau Civil Hospital, Dow University Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
Ubedullah Shaikh
*
Consultant General Surgeon, Services Hospital, Sindh Government, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the association of vitamin D deficiency with hepatitis B and C virus Infection.
Study Design: This is a prospective study.
Setting: Study carried out at Medicine department Civil Hospital Karachi, from March, 2018 to December, 2019.
Materials and Methods: 266 Participants of the study included patients with active hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection visiting OPD of the hospital. Vitamin D levels of 14-30 ng/ml have been described as insufficient and levels <14 ng/ml are labelled as deficient. Vitamin D level of >30 nm/ml have been defined as sufficient according to our study. Diagnosis of Hepatitis B is confirmed by HBV DNA and HBsAg serum levels and of Hepatitis C by HCV RNA levels.
Results: We received 70.6% (n=266) males and 29.3% females. After serological tests 34.9% (n=93) patients were positive for HBV DNA whereas 47.7% (n=127) patients were positive for HCV DNA. Coinfection with hepatitis B and C was present in 17.2% (n=46) of patients. Amongst total 266 participants 54.31% patients have been vitamin D deficient and 32.7% have insufficient vitamin D levels.
Conclusion: Genetic and metabolic factors linked to hepatitis B and C with vitamin D deficiency should be studied on large scale. In our study patients infected with HBV and HCV have been vitamin D deficient, supplementation needs to be added to the treatment regimen.
Keywords: Vitamin D deficiency, hepatitis B, hepatitis C