Hepatitis B virus markers and persistent antigenemia in adolescents

Adolescents attending a municipal outpatient adolescent clinic in New York City were evaluated for the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers and persistent antigenemia. Among 313 teenagers tested in 1 year, 11.8% were HBV marker positive, and 4.8% had persistent antigenemia. Hispanic teens had a marker rate of 6.4% and an antigenemia rate of 1.4%. Dominican Republic teens had a significantly higher marker rate than Puerto Rican teens. Among Hispanics, sexual activity status and foreign- vs. U.S.-born status were not significantly related to the presence of HBV markers. Asian teenagers had a 50% marker rate and a 27.2% rate for persistent antigenemia. Marker and antigenemia rates were highest in the most recent immigrants. Unexplained persistent hematuria occurred more frequently in patients with HBV markers than in patients without markers. We recommend routine hepatitis B surface antigen screening in Hispanic and Asian adolescents. The greatest at-risk groups are Asians, especially recent immigrants, immigrants from the Dominican Republic, and probably patients with unexplained persistent hematuria.