01851nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260001500042653002500057653001200082653001600094653001600110653000800126653001600134653001100150100001400161700001100175700002000186700001200206700002300218245006000241050001600301520126600317022001401583       2013                            d  c2013 Aug 610aMycobacterium leprae10aleprosy10aLeprosarium10aHepatitis B10aHBV10aCoinfection10aBrazil1 aLeitão C1 aUeda D1 aMoraes Braga AC1 aBoldt A1 aMessias-Reason LJT00aLeprosy and hepatitis B coinfection in southern Brazil.  aLEITAO 20133 aTo investigate the association of leprosy with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, as yet unknown for South Brazil, we assessed hepatitis B virus coinfection in 199 South Brazilian leprosy patients (119 lepromatous, 15 tuberculoid, 30 borderline, 12 undetermined and 23 unspecified) and in 681 matched blood donors by screening for the hepatitis B virus markers HBSAg and anti-HBc, using ELISA. Positive samples were retested and anti-HBc+ only samples were tested for the hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs). There was a strong association between leprosy and hepatitis B virus infection (OR=9.8, 95% CI=6.4-14.7; p=0.004·E(-30)), as well as an association between HBV infection and lepromatous leprosy, compared to other forms (OR=2.4, 95% CI=1.2-4.8; p=0.017). We also found that confinement due to leprosy was associated with hepatitis B virus infection (OR=3.9, 95% CI=2.1-7.4; p=0.015·E(-3)). Leprosy patients are susceptible to develop hepatitis B virus infection, especially lepromatous. Institutionalized patients, who probably present a stronger Th2 response, have higher risk of being exposed to hepatitis B virus. This clearly emphasizes the need for special care to leprosy patients in preventing hepatitis B virus coinfection in South Brazil.  a1678-4391