Hepatitis B in symptomless Danish homosexual men.
Forty eight symptomless homosexual men attending a sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinic and found by screening to have hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were followed up for a median of 10 (range six to 26) months to characterise their liver disease. Initially 33/50 (66%) of the men had increased serum liver enzyme activity and 19/47 (40%) had increased serum immunoglobulin G concentrations. Liver biopsy specimens showed acute hepatitis B in 12 (39%) and chronic hepatitis B in 19 (61%) of the 31 patients who underwent liver biopsy. The course of the infection was: acute hepatitis B in 14/48 (29%), chronic persistent hepatitis B in 23/48 (48%), chronic aggressive hepatitis B in 8/48 (17%), and cirrhosis in 3/48 (6%) of the patients. Antibodies against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) were present in 16/45 (36%) of the patients, but the presence of antibodies to HIV did not influence the course of hepatitis B in the observation period.
Munck
L K
LK
Department of Medical Gastroenterology, Bispebjerg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Petersen
C S
CS
Bech
K
K
Thomsen
A C
AC
Kroon
S
S
Worm
A M
AM
Wantzin
G L
GL
Gerstoft
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000145:classification
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007074:Immunoglobulin G