Abstract              Background: The prevalence of HBV in dialysis population is reported to range between 3.4% to 42%. The prevalence of HBsAg depends on various factors like duration of patient being on hemodialysis, multiple blood transfusions, use of multiple centers for hemodialysis, number of times the dialyser is reused, socio demographic factors and prevalence of HBsAg in local population. Aims and Objectives: To study the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in maintenance dialysis patients and associated risk factors in tertiary care institute. Materials and Method: In the present study all patients of ESRD with Arteriovenous fistula and registered in the study institute and requiring regular maintenance hemodialysis for atleast 2 months included. Total 100 patients were enrolled. Patients were informed and written consent obtained to collect blood sample for the present study purpose. Testing was done by the HBsAg one step ultra Hepatitis-B surface antigen test device HEPACARD manufactured by J. Mitra and Co. Ltd. It is a qualitative, one step enzyme immunoassay for the detection of HBsAg in human serum or plasma. But in the present study only serum was used for practical purposes. Results: It was observed that out of total 100 patients in the present study 6% were HBsAg positive. Out of total 5 patients in the age group of 61- 70 years 4 (80%) were HBsAg positive. The difference observed in the age, sex and social economic class distribution was not statistically significant. The duration of dialysis of HBsAg positive and negative patients with mean durations was 231.16±69.39 days and 181.07±50.63 days respectively. The difference observed between the duration of dialysis of HBsAg positive and negative patients was statistically significant. The association of HBsAg in patients on hemodialysis with more than 6 units of blood transfusion with patients on hemodialysis receiving less than 6 blood transfusions was done and the difference was statistically significant. It was seen that the patients on hemodialysis in more than 1 centre were at increased risk of sero-positivity. The association of sero-positivity in vaccinated patients with patients not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated was statistically significant. Conclusion: Thus we conclude that the seroprevalence of hepatitis B in maintenance dialysis patients was 6% in the study institute. The risk factors associated with HBsAg and found statistically significant were duration of hemodialysis, use of multiple centers for hemodialysis, lack of HBV vaccination and multiple blood transfusions.

Key Words: Hepatitis B, prevalence, maintenance hemodialysis.