title: Antibody to hepatitis A antigen in institutionalized mentally retarded patients.
abstract: Institutionalized patients with Down syndrome and matched controls with other causes of mental retardation were tested by immune adherence hemagglutination for the presence of antibody to hepatitis A antigen (anti-HA). Altogether 75.1% (175 of 233) exhibited presence of anti-HA, with no differences by sex or age. Patients reactive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) or its antibody (anti-HBs) were reactive for anti-HA significantly more frequently than those with a negative reaction for these markers. In contrast to serologic markers of hepatitis type B, prevalence of anti-HA does not depend on the cause of mental retardation or on the age at primary infection. The rate of anti-HA positivity was found to be closely correlated with duration of institutionalization. The study confirmed that many closed institutions for the mentally retarded are hyperendemic for hepatitis type A and that formation of anti-HA is not greatly affected by either immune deficiency or immune immaturity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D002648:Child; D003134:Commitment of Persons with Psychiatric Disorders; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000276:immunology*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens