Screening for Hepatitis and Viral Infections in a Significant Risk Group

Introduction: Each visit to out patient clinics is an opportunity to detect viral infections, particularly in high risk populations. Serological tests for viral hepatitis and TORCH infections must be evaluated in people planning pregnancy. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to screen some infections in patients scheduled for in vitro fertilization in our hospital. Materials and Methods: Patients, admitted to the In Vitro Fertilization Department of our hospital, were searched retrospectively for serological tests for viral hepatitis, syphilis, rubella, rubeola, and CMV between 01 January 2005 and 01 May 2013. Results: Serological tests were asked for a total one thousand six hundred and sixty-four patients. The mean age of the patients was 39.5 (± 9.6). The positive rates of anti-HAV IgG, HBsAg, anti-HBc, anti-HBs, and anti-HBe were 87.6%, 3.1%, 6.9%, 21%, and 2.1%, respectively. The rate of previous HBV infection was 4.7%. Forty-three (3.1%) patients had positive serology for chronic hepatitis B. The rate of anti-HCV positive patients was 1.9%. Seven of 163 patients had positive HEV serology. Anti-rubella IgG was found positive in three hundred and five of 319 patients, anti-rubeola IgG in 25 of 30 patients, anti-CMV IgG in 354 of 371 patients, VDRL in two of 104 patients, and Treponema pallidum IgG + M inone of 56. Conclusion: People, planning pregnancy, must be checked for viral hepatitis and TORCH infections in countries with moderate endemicity for hepatitis B. Rational serology testing and multidisciplinary approach are necessary to interpret results properly and manage patients.