PREVALENCE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF HBEAG AND ISOLATED ANTI-HBC IN SEVERALINSTITUTIONS FOR THE MENTALLY-RETARDED IN THE AUTONOMOUS COMMUNITY OFMADRID

Hepatitis B virus(HBV) surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HBsAg ( antiHBs) are excellent markers for HBV infection and its immunity. A t otal of 414 patients, 312 Down syndrome and 102 non-Down's syndrome, w ere studied, and 142 were residents of an institution (RI), whereas 27 2 were in nonresidential care (NRC). Of the total, 28 (6.8%) were HBsA g positive, and of these, 16 (57.1%) had a positive test for the Hepat itis Be antigen (HBeAg). Proportionately more Down syndrome chronic ca rriers of HBsAg acquired the persistent Hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg) t han non-Down syndrome patients 15 (65.2%) vs. 1 (20%). The presence of HBeAg was correlated with abnormal liver function and high titres of HBsAg. Testing for the IgM antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen (I gM AntiKBc) facilitated the identification of acute and chronic hepati tis infection in both RI and NRC individuals. The significance of isol ated antiHBc seropositivity in Down syndrome patients remains unclear. It is not certain whether the isolated antiHBc seropositivity represe nts chronic ''low levels'' of HBV, past infection, or false positive t ests, and whether this test should be employed as a vaccine screening test. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.