Prevalences of hepatitis A, B, C and E viruses in Behcet's disease

Objective. To determine whether Behcet's disease (BD), being a systemic vas culitis of unknown aetiology, is associated with hepatitis viruses (HAV, HB V, HCV and HEV). Methods. In addition to 124 patients [male:female (M/F): 73/51], all fulfil ling the diagnostic criteria of the International Study Group for ED (1991) , 14 patients with systemic necrotizing vasculitis (M/F: 7/7), 47 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (M/F: 36/11) and 51 healthy controls (M/F: 22/2 9) were also included in this study. Serological markers of four different types of hepatitis (anti-HAV IgM, total anti-HAV, HBsAg, anti-HBs, total an ti-HBc, anti-HBc IgM, anti-HCV and anti-HEV) were studied in all cases. Results. There was no difference between the groups with respect to HAV, HC V and HEV serologies. Anti-HBs positivity was observed less frequently in E D compared with healthy controls and systemic vasculitis (P < 0.05). Conclusion. Serological evidence of previous HAV, HCV and HEV infections wa s not significantly different between Behcet's patients and other groups. H owever, previous HBV infection was found in a significantly lower number of ED patients as compared with healthy controls and systemic vasculitic pati ents.