Prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection among alcoholic patients with liver disease.

Abstract

23 February 1981 munehospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. In 445 of these 519 patients(86 %) a liver biopsywasperformed.Two hundred and fifty-three of the patients had been diagnosed as having alcoholic liver disease and form the group in our study. Of these 253 patients a histological diagnosis was available in 205 (81 %).The sex ratio between men and women was 2:1. The mean age was 51 yr (range 17-82 yr).The diagnosis was based on anamnestic information of a daily intake of at least 50 g of alcohol for five years and on clinical, biochemical, and histological findings.Frozen serum samples from the time of admission to hospital were investigated for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-body (anti-HBs) using solid phase radioimmunoassays (Ausria-tf and Ausab, Abbott, North Chicago, USA). The analysis were performed under code without knowledge of the clinical or histological diagnosis. ResultsHBsAg was found in 11 of the 253 samples (4 %) and anti-HBs in 70 samples (28 %). Samples from two patients contained both HBsAg and anti-HBs, hence a total of 79 out of 253 patients (31 %) demonstrated serological signs of previous or active HBV infection.

Resposta à vacinação contra a hepatite B em alcoolistas sem cirrose hepática clinicamente evidente

“…Em vários estudos foram relatadas maiores prevalências de marcadores sorológicos de infecção pelo VHB em alcoolistas, quando comparados a controles ou à população geral, indicando que alcoolistas apresentam maiores riscos de adquirir esta infecção (1,3,6,13,16,18,20,24,25,27,28,29,30,31) . O comportamento da infecção pelo VHB em alcoolistas foi investigado em alguns trabalhos que apresentaram resultados controversos.…”

“…A HB pode apresentar-se como uma forma aguda auto-limitada que evolui para cura, pode ser grave cursando como hepatite fulminante, ou ainda, ter curso crônico, podendo evoluir para cirrose hepática e/ou hepatocarcinoma (21) . Os fatores que influenciam a evolução da doença podem estar relacionados ao hospedeiro (idade de infecção, gênero, estado da imunidade), ao vírus (carga viral, genótipo, mutação) e a causas externas (infecções virais concomitantes, alcoolismo, quimioterapia) (43) .Em vários estudos foram relatadas maiores prevalências de marcadores sorológicos de infecção pelo VHB em alcoolistas, quando comparados a controles ou à população geral, indicando que alcoolistas apresentam maiores riscos de adquirir esta infecção (1,3,6,13,16,18,20,24,25,27,28,29,30,31) . O comportamento da infecção pelo VHB em alcoolistas foi investigado em alguns trabalhos que apresentaram resultados controversos.…”

Experience with Hepatitis B viral load testing in Nigeria

“…Influence of age on development of HBV carrier state has been studied and a consistent relation was found. A study by Chen et al showed a persistent suppression of HBV DNA is important to prevent the development of HCC in known cirrhosis patients [16] . Treatment with the interferon group reduces viral load to undetectable levels with a 50-70% success rate.…”

Course and Outcome of Acute Type B Hepatitis in Heavy Alcohol Abusers

“…A high prevalence of chronic HBV infec tion among alcoholics is a well-recognized phenomenon, but the reasons for it are gen erally unclear [2][3][4][5]. It seems plausible that some immunological factors secondary to the influence of alcohol are involved, since alcoholics present a wide variety of immuno logical disturbances [6], and their response to HBV vaccination is impaired [7], Con trary to expectations, we did not find a higher progression rate to chronic HBV in fection after acute type B hepatitis among alcoholics when compared with non-drink ing controls.…”

“…It has been reported that alcoholics dis play a significantly increased prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis B virus (HBV) anti gens [1][2][3], Furthermore, several studies pointed to a high prevalence of chronic HBV infection among alcohol abusers [2][3][4], The reasons for this phenomenon are generally unknown, although it has been suggested that persistence of HBV infection may be due to compromised immunological re sponse secondary to alcohol consumption [3], We undertook the present study to deter mine the course and outcome of acute type B hepatitis in alcohol abusers.…”