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Hepatitis in 101 consecutive suburban cocaine and opiate users
International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
|January 1, 1986
Summary
Intravenous drug users show significantly higher rates of hepatitis A and B infections compared to non-IV users. Hepatitis B antibody presence in drug abusers may indicate undisclosed IV drug use history.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Addiction Medicine
Background:
- Intravenous (IV) drug use is a known risk factor for infectious diseases.
- Hepatitis A and B are significant public health concerns, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the incidence of hepatitis A and B infections and elevated SGPT levels in cocaine and/or heroin abusing patients.
- To compare infection rates between intravenous (IV) and non-IV drug users.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 101 drug-abusing patients' medical records.
- Assessment for IV drug abuse history, hepatitis A and B antigen/antibody evidence, and serum SGPT levels.
Main Results:
- 84.9% of IV drug users were hepatitis B antibody positive versus 6.9% of non-IV users.
- 43.4% of IV drug users had hepatitis A antibody positivity compared to 3.4% of non-IV users.
- Elevated SGPT levels were more common in IV drug users (63.6%) than non-IV users (12.2%).
Conclusions:
- IV drug use is associated with a substantially increased incidence of both hepatitis A and B infections.
- Hepatitis B antibody presence in patients denying IV use may suggest undisclosed drug abuse.
- Drug type and geographic location did not appear to be significant determinants of infection rates.