Prevalência de hepatite B no Lúpus eritematoso sistêmico em um centro terciário do Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by episodes of relapses and remissions, often treated with immunosuppressants. This management increases susceptibility to infectious complications, such as hepatitis B (HBV), which may have a subclinical course. The relationship between viral infections and autoimmunity is not well understood, making it necessary to investigate the prevalence of HBV infection in populations with SLE. Methods: A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted in the rheumatology service of Professor Edgard Santos University Hospital (HUPES) in Salvador, Bahia. A total of 127 patients diagnosed with SLE, between September 2021 and September 2022, whose medical records contained HBV screening results, were included. The variables analyzed included demographic data, disease activity assessed by SLEDAI 2000, and HBV serology. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. Results: Among the included patients, 88.3% were female, and the mean age was 39.08 years (± 12.8). The most common manifestations were articular (97.6%), cutaneous (89.8%), and hematological (39.4%). Most patients had no disease activity (54.3%) at the time of evaluation. Regarding HBV screening, no patient tested positive for HBsAg. The anti-HBs marker was detected in 34.5% of the patients, while total anti-HBc was positive in only one patient (0.8%), indicating previous contact or functional cure. No cases of active infection were identified. Conclusion: The study demonstrated a low prevalence of HBV infection among SLE patients, corroborating international literature. The relationship between SLE and HBV remains paradoxical, with suggestions that the autoimmune environment could act as both a predisposing and protective factor against infection. Future studies with larger samples and prospective approaches are needed to better understand this complex interaction.