DETECTION RATE OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION IN THE FAMILIES OF RENAL PATIENTS WITH MARKERS OF VIRAL HEPATITIS-B

A total of 33 families were surveyed with a view to determine the pres ence of hepatitis B markers in persons with diagnosed renal diseases. In all patients markers of hepatitis B virus infection (HBsAg, anti-HB s antibodies, anti-HBc total and Igm antibodies) were determined in th e enzyme immunoassay. Those families in which examinees with renal pat hology were found to have markers of hepatitis B virus infection exhib ited a high level of contamination with hepatitis B virus. A high prop ortion of examinees with viral hepatitis B was established in the fami lies where mothers were found to have markers of hepatitis B virus inf ection. These facts indicate that everyday contacts play an important role in the transmission of the virus. The study points out that in th e family foci of hepatitis B virus infection nonmanifest or slightly m anifest forms of this infection are mainly registered.