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Epidemiology of hepatitis b e antigen and antibody in mentally retarded hbsag carriers
Author(s) -
Lohiya Ghanshyam,
Lohiya Sunita,
Ngo Vinh Trong,
Crinella Ramona
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840060202
Subject(s) - virology , hbsag , antibody , mentally retarded , antigen , hepatitis b antigens , medicine , epidemiology , immunology , hepatitis , hepatitis b , hepatitis b virus , psychology , virus , developmental psychology
Abstract Screening for HBeAg and anti‐HBe was performed on 133 carriers of HBsAg in aninstitution for the mentally retarded. By radioimmunoassay, the prevalences of HBeAg and anti‐HBe were determined to be 16 and 78%, respectively. HBeAg prevalence was significantly different in the following pairs of carriers: 70% in blacks, 10% in whites, and 35% incarriers with Down's syndrome, 8% in carriers without Down's syndrome. Mean age of HBeAg‐positive carriers (25.7 years) was lower than HBeAg‐negative carriers (29.6 years, p < 0.05). SGPT levels were abnormal in 66% of HBeAg‐positive and 25% of HBeAg‐negative carriers (p < 0.01). This suggests an association between HBeAg positivity andfunctional liver impairment.