Hepatitis C in deceased drug addicts.
Needle sharing among drug addicts leads to the transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and AIDS. After development of a test system based on gene technology against the hepatitis C virus (HCV), drug addicts have been regarded as an important reservoir for hepatitis C. In our study 113 (40.1%) out of 282 addicts who died from drug abuse in Hamburg between 1988 and 1990 had antibodies against HCV (anti-HCV). The prevalence of anti-HCV differed in various age groups; the highest prevalence was found in addicts aged 30-34 years. Co-infections with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus were found in 57 drug addicts (59.4%) out of 96 deceased with antibodies to hepatitis B (anti-HBc), whereas only 8 out of 23 HIV-infected were anti-HCV positive (34.8%).
Trübner
K
K
Institut für Rechtsmedizin, Universität-Gesamthochschule-Essen, Federal Republic of Germany.
Polywka
S
S
Püschel
K
K
Laufs
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001344:Autopsy; D002423:Cause of Death; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005860:Germany, West / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D015497:HIV-1; D015490:HTLV-I Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015995:Prevalence; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies