INTRODUCTIONMany studies have reported on the association between human coronary artery disease (CAD) and certain persistent bacterial and viral infections. Currently, it is unclear whether hepatitis B virus infection is associated with the risk of the atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible association between hepatitis B virus infection and angiography-proven CAD.

MATERIALS AND METHODSSera from 5,004 patients who underwent coronary angiography were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay at Madani Heart Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran.

RESULTSOur study population comprised 66% male and 34% female, with an age range of 36 to 86 years. The prevalence of HBsAg positivity tended to be higher in CAD patients than in those without CAD (3.28% versus 2.17%), but the difference was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONOur results suggest that hepatitis B virus infection is not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in this population.

Child, Preschool ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Cholesterol, VLDL ; blood ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; blood ; complications ; epidemiology ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Sex Distribution