Abstract:

We present data from a single hepatology centre in Bulgaria which started its activity in the late 1990s. Currently 427 patients are treated with nucleotide or nucleoside analogues (NUCs), 104 of whom with liver cirrhosis. The majority – 60% of the patients – are diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B infection (both chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis) after 2000. The females are less than 1/3 of the patients. HBe antigen carriers are 86 of the patients with chronic hepatitis – 26% and 9 of those with liver cirrhosis – 8.5%.

The chronic viral infection was diagnosed on average at the age of 45.7±13.9 years for the patients with liver cirrhosis (44.6±13.5 years for males and 48.0±14.7 years for females). For those with chronic hepatitis B the age at the diagnosis was 38.3±14.1 (37.7±14.4 years for the males and 39.8±14 years for the females).

Only 25% of the patients are original from Sofia. The remaining 75% are from other parts of the country, mainly from Southern (32%) and Western Bulgaria (19%).

This group of patients gives an idea about the gender and age distribution at the time of the detection of the chronic hepatitis B viral infection in Bulgaria. Women who are less than 1/3 of the patients are slightly older than the men. Most patients were diagnosed during the last decade, which corresponds to the improved healthcare in Bulgaria.This group of patients gives an idea about the gender and age distribution at the time of the detection of the chronic hepatitis B viral infection in Bulgaria. Women who are less than 1/3 of the patients are slightly older than the men. Most patients were diagnosed during the last decade, which corresponds to the improved healthcare in Bulgaria.