Hematological Alterations in Patients Infected with Hepatitis B Virus: A Retrospective Study from Libreville, Gabon

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a major global public health concern, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Although primarily associated with liver disease, HBV infection may also influence hematological parameters. Objective: This study aimed to assess variations in selected hematological parameters among HBV-infected patients compared with uninfected individuals at the Mother and Child University Hospital Center—Jeanne Ebori Foundation (CHUME-FJE), Libreville, Gabon. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study including 150 patients who underwent both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) testing and complete blood count (CBC) analysis between January 2019 and December 2021. Patients were classified into two groups: HBsAg-positive (n = 75) and HBsAg-negative controls (n = 75). Hematological parameters were analyzed and compared between groups. Results: The study population consisted predominantly of women (72%) with a mean age of 31 years. The highest proportion of HBV-infected patients was found in the 32 - 43-year age group. Compared with controls, a higher proportion of HBV-infected individuals had leukopenia (11% vs. 3%), neutropenia (15% vs. 8%), lymphopenia (20% vs. 8%), and thrombocytopenia (29% vs. 19%). Hemoglobin levels, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: HBV infection appears to affect hematological parameters, particularly leukocyte and platelet counts, potentially reflecting immune alterations and hematopoietic dysfunction associated with chronic infection. Further studies examining inflammatory markers, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), as well as possible bone marrow involvement, are warranted.