BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rate in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in China, and to determine the age and sex distribution.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 3981 SLE patients diagnosed in The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from January 1996 to December 2011 were retrospectively investigated for evaluation of the HBV infection rate. The HBV infection rate and the positive rate of hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb) and hepatitis B core antibody (HBcAb) were standardized to national census data in 2000 and compared with the prevalence found in the 2006 national survey.

RESULTS: The age and sex standardized HBV infection rate in Chinese SLE patients was 3.3%. The age and sex standardized positive rate of HBsAb and HBcAb were 58.1% and 26.1%, respectively. As compared with the prevalence from the 2006 national survey, the HBV infection rate and the positive rate of HBcAb were lower and the positive rate of HBsAb was higher in SLE patients aged 15–49 years old compared to peers in the general population. There was no difference in HBV infection rate between males and females (4.2% vs. 2.8%, p=0.088) in SLE patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The HBV infection rate was relatively lower in SLE patients compared with the general population, but there was no difference in pediatric patients or patients aged above 50 years old. Unlike in the general population, the HBV infection rate had no statistical differences between males and females in SLE patients.

Keywords: Adolescent, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, China - epidemiology, Cross-Sectional Studies, Hepatitis B - epidemiology, Hepatitis B Antibodies - blood, Infant, Newborn, Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic - complications, Prevalence, young adult