Evolution of acute hepatitis B in homosexual men to chronic hepatitis B. Prospective study of placebo recipients in a hepatitis B vaccine trial.
To determine whether the frequency of chronic hepatitis B in homosexual men reflects the high rate of acute hepatitis B or an altered response to hepatitis B, 236 homosexual men were prospectively followed up after entry into the placebo group of a hepatitis B vaccine trial. Sixty-six participants (28.0%) developed hepatitis B ten to 18 months after entering the study. Only four (6.1%) of the 66 had persistence of hepatitis B beyond six months, similar to reports in nonhomosexual subjects. This study suggests that the high rate of acute hepatitis B is the major factor contributing to the high prevalence of chronic hepatitis B in homosexual men, rather than an altered host response. Clinical features of the acute illness could not be used to identify patients who developed chronic hepatitis B.
Shah
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Ostrow
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Altman
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Baker
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D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines; D010919:Placebos; D014761:Viral Hepatitis Vaccines