Subject(s)
Hepatitis B Antigens , Liver Cirrhosis/immunology , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Immunodiffusion , Immunoelectrophoresis , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
A survey of hospital patients with lepromatous and with tuberculoid leprosy showed 5% of the former and 6.3% of the latter to be carriers of hepatitis B antigen. These findings contradict the hypothesis of a genetically determined predisposition; opportunity for infection appears rather to be the determining factor. It was also found that (1) the number of carriers was higher among patients staying longer in hospital; (2) titres of antigen in patients with lepromatous leprosy were higher than in those with tuberculoid leprosy or in controls; and (3) antigen titres measured twice at an interval of 4 months indicated that the carrying of hepatitis B antigen in patients with leprosy is stable and persistent.
Subject(s)
Carrier State/immunology , Hepatitis B Antigens/analysis , Hospitals, Special , Leprosy/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Child , Female , Humans , Immunodiffusion , Immunoelectrophoresis , India , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
A survey of hospital patients with lepromatous and with tuberculoid leprosy showed 5% of the former and 6.3% of the latter to be carries of hepatitis B antigen. These findings contradict the hypothesis of a genetically detrmined predisposition; opportunity for infection appears rather to be the determining factor. It was also found that 1. the number of carries was higher among patients stayng longer in hospital; 2. titres of antigen in patients with lepromatous leprosy were higher than in those with tuberculoid leprosy or in controls; and 3. antigen titres measured twice at an interval of 4 months indicated that the carryng of hepatitis B antigen in patients with leprosy is satble and persistent.
