title: [Viral hepatitis and AIDS-associated HTLV III/LAV virus infections in drug addicts].
abstract: In 1984 intravenous drug users accounted for 25% of all cases of acute hepatitis B and for 32% of all cases of non-A/non-B hepatitis recorded in the Canton of Zürich. Drug addicts also represented an important risk group for hepatitis A, which occurred in small epidemics. Among 141 "healthy" drug users, 10 (7%) individuals showed signs of ongoing hepatitis B virus (HBV-) infection, 26 (19%) individuals had the finding "anti-HBc-alone" (unresolved HBV-infection) and another 69 (49%) individuals were HBV-immune. 30%, 23% and 16% of the three above groups of individuals with HBV-markers were also anti-delta virus positive. Of the 141 "healthy" drug users 23 (16%) showed signs of an ongoing hepatitis A virus (HAV-) infection and 63 (45%) individuals were HAV-immune. Anti-HTLV III/LAV was detected in 69 (49%) of the i.v. drug users, with a higher prevalence (60%) in females than in males and with a higher prevalence in individuals with HBV-markers (50-62%) than in those without such markers (19%). Thus the i.v. drug users are at high risk for infections with hepatitis viruses A, B, D and those responsible for non-A/non-B hepatitis, as well as with the AIDS-associated virus HTLV III/LAV. Preventive measures should include a reduction of needle sharing and of promiscuity, which is abundantly practised by i.v. drug users.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D017977:Deltaretrovirus / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies
vernacular_title: Virale Hepatitis und AIDS-assoziierte HTLV III/LAV-Virusinfektionen bei Drogenabhängigen.