title: Hepatitis B antigen and antibody in heroin users.
abstract: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody (anti-HBsAg) were determined on 442 asymptomatic heroin users and 246 controls. Of the drug-taking group, 124 used heroin intravenously and 318 nonintravenously (smoking, sniffing). Twenty-three (5.2%) heroin users were HBsAg positive and 118 (26.7%) anti-HBsAg positive, compared to three (1.2%) HBsAg positive and 28 (11.4%) anti-HBsAg positive controls, both statistically significant. HBsAg was positive in eight (6.5%) intravenous heroin users and statistically identical to 15 (4.7%) HBsAg positive nonintravenous users. Positive anti-HBsAg in 55 (44.4%) intravenous heroin users compared to 63 (19.8%) nonintravenous users, however, is statistically significicant.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D003932:Heroin