Prevalence of hepatitis viral infection in dental patients with impacted teeth or jaw deformities.
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis G virus (HGV), and transfusion-transmitted viruses (TTV) was evaluated in patients with impacted teeth or jaw deformities.


METHODS
Of 486 patients, 268 had serum samples available for retrospective TTV DNA and HGV RNA assays. In addition, the sera of 404 patients were assayed for HB surface antigen and the sera of 340 were assayed for HCV antibody.


RESULTS
HGV RNA was detected in 3 of 268 patients (1.1%), and TTV DNA was detected in 60 of 268 (22.4%). Of 404 patients, 3 had HB surface antigens (0.7%). Furthermore, 13 of 340 were HCV-seropositive (3.8%). The rate of infection was similar between patients with impacted teeth and those with jaw deformities, respectively, as follows: 1.1% versus 0%, respectively, for HBV prevalence; 4.1% versus 3.2% for HCV prevalence; 1.8% versus 0% for HGV prevalence; and 22.9% versus 21.4% for TTV prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Universal precautions to prevent hepatitis and TTV infection during oral surgical procedures are important.
Takata
Yutaka
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyushu Dental College, Kitakyushu, Japan. yutaka@mail.kyu-dent.ac.jp
Tominaga
Kazuhiro
K
Naito
Toru
T
Kurokawa
Hideo
H
Sonoki
Kazuo
K
Goto
Daisuke
D
Wakisaka
Masanori
M
Fukuda
Jinichi
J
Yokota
Makoto
M
Takahashi
Tetsu
T
D000328:Adult; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D029407:GB virus C / Q000235:genetics; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007569:Jaw Abnormalities / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014095:Tooth, Impacted / Q000150:complications*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D012367:RNA, Viral