Viral hepatitis among parenteral drug addicts attending a Danish addiction clinic

Abstract

100 parenteral drug abusers attending an addiction clinic were studied for past or present infection with hepatitis A and B virus (HAV and HBV) by sensitive serological assays for hepatitis B surface and e-antigen and antibodies to HBsAg, HBeAg, HBcAg and HAV. 44% of the individuals had past HAV infection, which is 4 times as high compared to the general population in Denmark. 83% had evidence of past or present HBV infection with no difference between men and women. This is 30 times higher than in the general population in Denmark. 18% of the subjects studied were positive for HBsAg and/or anti-HBc alone, but only 3 of these were positive for HBeAg (3%). Serum transaminase values were often elevated but this finding could not differentiate between patients with or without HBV infection. Infection with HBV appeared to take place during the first year of the drug addict's career, and to eliminate this major reservoir of HBV infection the main objective will be to prevent new susceptible individuals in getting addicted.