Viral hepatitis markers in Soviet and American blood donors

Is endoscopy hazardous to your liver?

In a survey of a gastrointestinal endoscopy society, 92 members (84%) filled out a questionnaire and donated serum specimens for testing for hepatitis B markers and alanine aminotransferase. The frequency of serologic evidence of exposure to hepatitis B was only slightly higher than that seen in the general population and comparable to that reported in "low-risk" health-care workers. Overall, 12% had markers of previous hepatitis B exposure and 3% had an abnormal aminotransferase determination. There was no correlation between hepatitis B exposure and endoscopic experience.

Hepatitis B virus markers in male saudi blood donors

Hepatitis B surface antigen was determined by radioimmunoassay in 2487 male Saudi and 7587 Western expatriate volunteer blood donors. The HBsAg positivity rate was 8.5% in males Saudis and 0.7% in Western expatriate blood donors. This study was further extended to test other hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in 200 consecutive Saudi male blood donors' sera. A positivity rate for HBsAg was 8.5%, anti-Hbs was 35.5%, anti-HBc (alone) was 1.5%, HBeAg was 1.0%, and anti-HBe was 2.5%. A suggested nonspecific screening test for ALT enzymes with levels of ≥ 45 IU/L (normal 6-36 IU/L) for non-A, non-B hepatitis carrier state was performed on the 200 male Saudi blood donor sera, using Dupont ACA III methodology. The result showed an elevation of enzyme in 2.5% of Saudi donors. If a blood donor with any HBV marker were excluded the only 1.5% showed ALT enzyme elevation, considerably lower than the reported 3.6% in the U.S. blood donor population. The positivity rates of 8.5% for HBsAg, 35.5% for anti-HBs and 49% for any HBV serological markers in male Saudi blood donors are significantly higher than in American volunteer blood donors.

Viral hepatitis markers in Thai blood donors

1,410 voluntary blood donors from Bangkok were investigated by radioimmunoassay for HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HAV. An HBsAg carrier state was observed in 10.7% of whom 42.1% were HBeAg positive and 40.2% had anti-HBe. Antibody prevalences (except anti-HBe) rose with increasing age. The occurrence of hepatitis markers did not vary significantly between donors living along the canals and those living in the Greater Bangkok area.

The risk of hepatitis B infection among health professionals in the United States: a review

Many physicians, dentists, and allied health personnel sustain occupational exposures to blood and other body fluids that increase their risk of contracting type B viral hepatitis. Overall, the risk of hepatitis B among persons employed in health-related fields is estimated to be approximately four times that in the general adult population. Studies on the incidence of infection and the prevalence of hepatitis B serologic markers have further defined risk in specific occupational categories and work activities. Physicians and dentists are five to ten times more likely than the general adult population to experience hepatitis B infection. Infection rates ten or more times above the average have often been characteristic of surgeons, patient care personnel in dialysis units and institutions for the mentally handicapped, and clinical laboratory workers having frequent contact with blood samples.