title: [Hepatitis A-, B- and C-markers among Norwegian drug addicts in the period 1975-89].
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis A-, B- and C-markers has been studied in patients at a Norwegian rehabilitation centre for drug addicts. The prevalence of hepatitis C-antibodies was fairly constant in the years 1976 (56%), 1985 (78%) and 1988-89 (73%), but may be decreasing in younger addicts. The data suggest a highly variable incidence of HAV with few infections in recent years. The prevalence of hepatitis B-markers, which has been calculated from 1975 to 1988-89, reached a maximum of 93% in 1986. Since then a significant decrease in prevalence has been observed among younger patients, suggesting that the HIV campaign has led to improved hygiene precautions among intravenous drug addicts. A strong correlation was observed between positive markers for HBV and presence of anti-HCV, and, similarly, between the presence of anti-HAV and markers for HBV and HCV. Anti-HCV was significantly associated with pathological ALT-values.
authors.affiliation: Statens klinikk for narkomane, Hov.
authors.forename: K B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Kielland
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Siebke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies
vernacular_title: Hepatitt A-, B- og C-markører hos norske stoffmisbrukere i perioden 1975-89.