Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in out-patient alcoholics

Prävalenz der Hepatitis B Virus-Infektion bei Patienten einer Alkoholikerambulanz

  • Originalia
  • Published:
Infection Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Sera from 192 out-patient alcoholics attending a clinic for the treatment of alcoholism were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and for antibodies to HBsAg and to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg). Three sera (1.5%) were positive for HBsAg. Of the remaining 189 alcoholics, 29 (15%) were positive for one or both antibodies. This prevalence is not significantly different from that found in 137 hospitalized HBsAg-negative patients with alcoholic liver disease (35/137 [26%] were positive for one or both antibodies). However, the prevalence of hepatitis B antibodies in out-patient alcoholics is significantly (p<0.01) higher when compared with the prevalence in healthy volunteer blood donors (5/114 [4%] were positive for one or both antibodies). A comparison of out-patient alcoholics positive for one or both antibodies (n=29) with patients negative for both antibodies (n=160) revealed that the median age in the former group (46 years) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that in the latter group (40 years).

Zusammenfassung

Im Serum von 192 Patienten einer Alkoholikerambulanz wurden Hepatitis B-Oberflächenantigen (HBsAg) und Antikörper gegen HBsAg und das Core Antigen (HBcAg) bestimmt. Drei der Seren (1,5%) waren HBsAg-positiv. Bei 29 der übrigen 189 Alkoholiker (15%) fanden sich Antikörper gegen HBsAg und/oder HBcAg. Bei 35 von 137 stationären, HBsAg-negativen Patienten mit alkoholischer Lebererkrankung wurden ebenfalls Antikörper gegen eines der beiden Antigene oder beide nachgewiesen. Die Prävalenzen bei den beiden Gruppen unterschieden sich nicht signifikant. Dagegen liegt die Prävalenz von Hepatitis B-Virus-Antikörpern bei ambulanten Alkoholikern signifikant über der Prävalenz bei gesunden unbezahlten Blutspendern, bei denen 5/114 oder 4% Antikörper gegen HBsAg und/oder HBcAg hatten (p<0,01). Ambulante Alkoholiker (n=29) mit Hepatitis B-Virus-Antikörpern wiesen jedoch gegenüber den Patienten ohne Antikörper (n=160) einen signifikanten Altersunterschied von im Mittel 46 gegenüber 40 Jahren auf (p<0,05).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature

  1. Mills, P. R., Pennington, T. H., Kay, P., MacSween, R. N. M., Watkinson, G. Hepatitis Bs antibody in alcoholic cirrhosis. J. Clin. Pathol. 32 (1979) 778–782.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Mills, P. R., Follett, E. C. A., Urquhart, G. E. D., Clements, G., Watkinson, G., MacSween, R. N. M. Evidence for previous hepatitis B virus infection in alcoholic cirrhosis. Br. Med. J. 282 (1981) 437–438.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hislop, W. S., Follett, E. A. C., Bouchier, I. A. D., MacSween, R. N. M. Serological markers of hepatitis B in patients with alcoholic liver disease: A multi-centre survey. J. Clin. Pathol. 34 (1981) 1017–1019.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Orholm, M., Aldershville, J., Tage-Jensen, U., Schlichting, P., Nielsen, J. O., Hardt, F., Christoffersen, P. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among alcoholic patients with liver disease. J. Clin. Pathol. 34 (1981) 1378–1380.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Gluud, C., Aldershvile, J., Henriksen, J., Kryger, P., Mathiesen, L. Hepatitis B and A virus antibodies in alcoholic steatosis and cirrhosis. J. Clin. Pathol. 35 (1982) 693–697.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Berkson, J. Limitations of the application of fourfold table analysis to hospital data. Biomet. Bull. 2 (1946) 47–53.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Smith, J. L., Maynord, J. E., Berquist, K. R., Doto, I. L., Webstev, H. M., Sheller, M. J. Comparative risk of hepatitis B among physicians and dentists. J. Infect. Dis. 133 (1976) 705–706.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dienstag, J. L., Ryan, D. M. Occupational exposure to hepatitis B; Infection or immunization. Gastroenterology 79 (1980) 1012.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Peterson, M. R., Barker, L. F., Schade, D. S. Detection of antibody to hepatitis associated antigen in haemophilia patients and in voluntary blood donors. Vox. Sang. 24 (1973) 66–75.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Szmuness, W., Prince, A. M., Brotman, B., Hirsch, R. L. Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in blood donors: An epidemiologic study. J. Infect. Dis. 127 (1973) 17–25.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Skinhøj, P., Olesen, H., Cohn, J., Mikkelsen, M. Hepatitis associated antigen in pregnant women. Acta Pathol. Microbiol. Scand. 80 (1972) 362–366.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Villa, E., Rubiani, L., Barchi, T., Ferretti, I., Grisendi, A., De Palma, M., Bellentani, S., Manenti, F. Susceptibility of chronic symptomless HBsAg carriers to ethanol-induced hepatic damage. Lancet II (1982) 1243–1244.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Division of Hepatology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650, Copenhagen

    C. Gluud M. D., B. Gluud M. D., J. Aldershvile M. D. & O. Dietrichson M. D.

  2. Out-Patient Clinic for Treatment of Alcoholism, Forchhammersvej, DK-1920, Copenhagen

    A. Jacobsen M. D.

Authors
  1. C. Gluud M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Gluud M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. Aldershvile M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. Jacobsen M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. O. Dietrichson M. D.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gluud, C., Gluud, B., Aldershvile, J. et al. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in out-patient alcoholics. Infection 12, 72–74 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01641674

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01641674

Keywords

Search

Navigation