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Epidemiological aspects of acute viral hepatitis in drug abusers

Epidemiologische Aspekte der akuten Virushepatitis bei Drogensüchtigen

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Summary

The epidemiological features of acute symptomatic viral hepatitis were examined in 151 consecutive, hospitalized drug abusers. Hepatitis B was diagnosed in 101 patients (66.8%), hepatitis A in 13 (8.6%) and non-A, non-B hepatitis in 35 (23.1%). Non-A, non-B hepatitis was significantly more prevalent among drug abusers than in an age-matched control population of non-drug abusers. Moreover, the mean duration of parenteral drug abuse was significantly lower among non-A, non-B cases than in patients with hepatitis A or B. These results suggest a wide circulation of both hepatitis B virus and non-A, non-B agent(s) among drug abusers in our area. These patients most likely represent a main reservoir of non-A, non-B infection due to the high rate of chronicity reported for non-A, non-B hepatitis.

Zusammenfassung

Epidemiologische Charakteristika der akuten Virus-Hepatitis wurden an 151 fortlaufend erfaßten Drogensüchtigen untersucht, die stationär behandelt wurden. Bei 101 Patienten (66,8%) wurde eine Hepatitis B, bei 13 (8,6%) eine Hepatitis A und bei 35 (23,1%) eine Nicht-A, Nicht-B Hepatitis diagnostiziert. Bei Drogensüchtigen war die Nicht-A, Nicht-B Hepatitis signifikant häufiger als bei einer altersentsprechenden nicht drogenabhängigen Kontrollgruppe. Den Fällen von Nicht-A, Nicht-B Hepatitis ging im Mittel eine kürzere Phase von parenteralem Drogenmißbrauch voraus als den Erkrankungen an Hepatitis A oder Hepatitis B. Daraus läßt sich schließen, daß das Hepatitis B Virus und das Hepatitis Nicht-A, Nicht-B Virus bei den Drogenabhängigen in unserem Kreis in beträchtlichem Ausmaß zirkulieren. Es ist wahrscheinlich, daß diese Patienten infolge der für Nicht-A, Nicht-B Hepatitis mitgeteilten hohen Rate an chronischen Verläufen ein Hauptreservoir für die Nicht-A, Nicht-B Hepatitis darstellen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto di Medicina Clinica, Patologia Medica, Policlinico dell'Università, Via Giustiniani 2, I-35100, Padova, Italy

    F. Bortolotti &  G. Realdi

  2. Divisione di Malattie Infettive dell'Ospedale Civile di Padova, I-35100, Padova, Italy

    A. Bertaggia,  P. Cadrobbi &  C. Crivellar

  3. Servizio di Immunoematologia e Trasfusionale dell'Ospidale Civile di Padova, I-35100, Padova, Italy

    E. Pornaro

Authors
  1. F. Bortolotti
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  2. G. Realdi
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  3. A. Bertaggia
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  4. P. Cadrobbi
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  5. C. Crivellar
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  6. E. Pornaro
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Bortolotti, F., Realdi, G., Bertaggia, A. et al. Epidemiological aspects of acute viral hepatitis in drug abusers. Infection 10, 277–279 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640873

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01640873

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