Author(s):

Josephine Ngozi Emenike, Silas Anayo Ufelle, Donatus Obinna Onodugo, Onyekwelu Kenechukwu*, Clara Kela-Eke and Vivian Nonyelum Anoh

Background: Hepatitis B is a liver infection caused by Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) that is transmissible from person to person through body fluids. The liver plays an important role in blood coagulation (homeostasis) being an important site of synthesis of all coagulation factors. Objective: This study was carried out to determine the effects of hepatitis B virus infection on coagulation parameters; Prothrombin Time (PT), International Normalised Ratio (INR), Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (APTT), fibrinogen, platelet count and D-dimer in HBV positive subjects in Enugu. Methods: Subjects (n= 112)comprising 24 asymptomatic HBV positive subjects, 24chronic HBV positive subjects, 24 HBV induced liver disease subjects and 40 apparently healthy nonHBV controls subjects participated in this study. Coagulation parameters were analysed using standard haematological techniques. Results: The results revealed significant increase (p<0.05) in: PT of asymptomatic HBV positive subjects (12.5±1.7seconds), PT (16.8 ± 3.6 seconds), INR (1.4 ± 0.4), APTT (39.8 ± 6.9 seconds), fibrinogen (145.5 ± 31.1 g/ dl), D-dimer (1537.9 ± 802.2 ng/ml)of HBV-induced liver disease subjects and platelets of chronic HBV(315 ± 85x10^9/L)compared to controls. Conclusion: The results revealed significant increase (p<0.05) in: PT of asymptomatic HBV positive subjects (12.5±1.7seconds), PT (16.8 ± 3.6 seconds), INR (1.4 ± 0.4), APTT (39.8 ± 6.9 seconds), fibrinogen (145.5 ± 31.1 g/dl), D-dimer (1537.9 ± 802.2 ng/ml)of HBV-induced liver disease subjects and platelets of chronic HBV(315 ± 85x10^9/L)compared to controls