title: Hepatitis B and C in alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a UK alcohol inpatient treatment unit.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection was studied in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a specialist alcohol inpatient unit to identify factors associated with hepatitis B and C infection. Laboratory, clinical and socio-demographic data were collected from 277 admissions over a 3-year period who were tested routinely for markers of hepatitis B and C infection. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis C, 27 (9.8%) were positive to the hepatitis anti-HCV IgG antibody. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis B, 30 (10.9%) were positive to the hepatitis anti-HBc IgG antibody. Few differences were found between hepatitis B positive and negative subjects. Hepatitis C positive individuals were more likely than Hepatitis C negative patients to have also been infected with the hepatitis B virus (p < 0.001), to have an unplanned discharge (p < 0.005) and to have ever used cannabis (p < 0.005), cocaine (p < 0.001), amphetamines (p < 0.001) or heroin (p < 0.001). They were also more likely to have a co-morbid antisocial personality disorder (p < 0.001), a lifetime diagnosis of opiate dependence (p < 0.001) and cocaine dependence (p < 0.005), higher serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (p < 0.05) and a lower platelet count (p < 0.05). These findings may help clinicians to identify those alcohol dependent patients with risk factors for hepatitis virus infection.
authors.affiliation: National Addiction Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martínez-Raga
authors.forename: E. Jane
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Keaney
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Best
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strang