TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroepidemiology of hepatitis b and d virus infection among intravenous drug addicts in israel
AU - Dan, Michael
AU - Rock, Meir
AU - Lilos, Pearl
AU - Shany, Shulamit Bar
PY - 1993/2
Y1 - 1993/2
N2 - To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection among intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) in Israel, serum samples were collected from 400 asymptomatic individuals attending a methadone clinic in Tel Aviv. Overall 5.5% were HBsAg positive, 2.4% HBeAg positive, 52% anti-HBc positive and 6.6% were positive for anti-HD. Anti-HD was identified in 18% of addicts who were HBsAg positive and in 3% who were HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive. Strong correlation was found between positivity to HBV antibodies and age and duration of drug use. History of jaundice correlated more strongly with anti-HD positivity than with presence of antibodies to HBV. We conclude that Israeli IVDA are less exposed to HBV and HDV infection than their North American and European counterparts.
AB - To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection among intravenous drug addicts (IVDA) in Israel, serum samples were collected from 400 asymptomatic individuals attending a methadone clinic in Tel Aviv. Overall 5.5% were HBsAg positive, 2.4% HBeAg positive, 52% anti-HBc positive and 6.6% were positive for anti-HD. Anti-HD was identified in 18% of addicts who were HBsAg positive and in 3% who were HBsAg negative and anti-HBc positive. Strong correlation was found between positivity to HBV antibodies and age and duration of drug use. History of jaundice correlated more strongly with anti-HD positivity than with presence of antibodies to HBV. We conclude that Israeli IVDA are less exposed to HBV and HDV infection than their North American and European counterparts.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0027406854&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/ije/22.1.140
DO - 10.1093/ije/22.1.140
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C2 - 8449634
AN - SCOPUS:0027406854
SN - 0300-5771
VL - 22
SP - 140
EP - 143
JO - International Journal of Epidemiology
JF - International Journal of Epidemiology
IS - 1
ER -
