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Hepatitis B and C in alcohol‐dependent patients admitted to a UK alcohol inpatient treatment unit
Author(s) -
MartínezRaga José,
Marshall E. Jane,
Keaney Francis,
Best David,
Ball David,
Strang John
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
addiction biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.445
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1369-1600
pISSN - 1355-6215
DOI - 10.1080/13556210020077082
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatitis b , hepatitis c , hepatitis , hepatitis c virus , gastroenterology , immunology , virus
The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection was studied in a sample of alcohol‐dependent patients admitted to a specialist alcohol inpatient unit to identify factors associated with hepatitis B and C infection. Laboratory, clinical and socio‐demographic data were collected from 277 admissions over a 3‐year period who were tested routinely for markers of hepatitis B and C infection. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis C, 27 (9.8%) were positive to the hepatitis anti‐HCV IgG antibody. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis B, 30 (10.9%) were positive to the hepatitis anti‐HBc IgG antibody. Few differences were found between hepatitis B positive and negative subjects. Hepatitis C positive individuals were more likely than Hepatitis C negative patients to have also been infected with the hepatitis B virus ( p < 0.001), to have an unplanned discharge ( p < 0.005) and to have ever used cannabis ( p < 0.005), cocaine ( p < 0.001), amphetamines ( p < 0.001) or heroin ( p < 0.001). They were also more likely to have a co‐morbid antisocial personality disorder ( p < 0.001), a lifetime diagnosis of opiate dependence ( p < 0.001) and cocaine dependence ( p < 0.005), higher serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels ( p < 0.05) and a lower platelet count ( p < 0.05). These findings may help clinicians to identify those alcohol dependent patients with risk factors for hepatitis virus infection.