title: Hepatitis B serology in Greek prostitutes: significance of the different serum markers.
abstract: One hundred and ninety-eight prostitutes (mean age 41.8 years) and 117 control women of low socio-economic class (mean age 43.8 years) were tested by solid-phase radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), its antibody (anti-HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). The prevalence of HBsAg was higher among prostitutes (11% v. 4%, P approximately 0.06). This difference was accounted for by the higher infection rate of prostitutes to hepatitis B virus (HBV) 97% v. 45%, P less than 10(-6)), since the proportion of HBsAg carriers among those infected was practically the same between the two groups (11% v. 9%). Among the previously infected prostitutes who did not become carriers the majority (75%) were positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs, whereas among control women about half (52%) were positive only for anti-HBc.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012306:Risk; D011477:Sex Work
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens