[The study on subclinical Epstein-Barr virus infection of heroin addicts].
OBJECTIVE
To study the subclinical EBV infection and related factors among heroin addicts.


METHODS
Three hundred and twelve heroin addicts were tested for serum EBV-VCA-IgA antibody by immunoenzyme technique population, four hundred and twenty one serum specimens from general were selected as control.


RESULTS
Ninty nine heroin addicts (31.51%) were found to be EBV positive. Three people from control group (0.7%) were found to be EBV positive. EBV prevalence rates were significantly different among heroin addict groups according to a group (P = 0.05), duration of addiction. However the dose and sex difference of heroin addicts was not associated with EBV infection rate.


CONCLUSIONS
The high infection rate of EBV in heroin addicts might be connected with different kinds of factors, hence worthy of supervising the subclinical EBV infection of heroin addicts.
Zhong
X
X
Department of Clinical Laboratory Centre, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
Liang
G
G
Jiang
J
J
D000328:Adult; D020031:Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies