title: Immune responses to hepatitis B virus and tuberculosis infections in Southeast Asian refugees.
abstract: Both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and hepatitis B virus infections are common in the Philadelphia Southeast Asian refugee population. Among 224 hepatitis B carriers identified between January 1, 1982 and March 31, 1984, there was a statistically significant association between a negative tuberculin skin test (purified protein derivative (PPD)) and viral replication (hepatitis B e antigen positivity (HBeAg)). This finding suggests that bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) vaccination might reduce the prevalence of infectious carriers, thereby ultimately reducing the incidence of hepatitis B infection.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000917:Antibody Formation; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000208:ethnology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D012036:Refugees; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000410:Alanine Transaminase