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A Prospective Study in Asymptomatic Drug Abusers

Barry Stimmel, MD; Salvatore Vernace, MD; Fenton Schaffner, MD

JAMA. 1975;234(11):1135-1138.

Abstract
The course of reactivity of hepatitis B surface antigen (HB_sAg) and antibody (anti-HB ) in 238 asymptomatic heroin addicts entering methadone maintenance was followed up for periods of one to four years. On initial determination, HB_sAg was seen in 39.1%, anti-HB_s in 10.5%, and HB_sAg and anti-HB_s in 9.2%; only 41.2% of persons tested had no detectable titers of either antigen or antibody. Abnormal liver function was found initially in 83% with no significant difference between those with or without HB_sAg and anti-HB_s. At the conclusion of each study year, 50% to 60% of persons initially HB_s-Ag-positive reverted to negative with HB_sAg absent in all persons followed up through the fourth year of treatment. Anti-HB_s persisted in two thirds of persons during the entire study. These results suggest that the HB Ag carrier state in addicts is not maintained if exposure is eliminated.

(JAMA 234:1135-1138, 1975)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Medicine, Mt Sinai School of Medicine of The City University of New York, New York.

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Mt Sinai School of Medicine, 100th St and Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10029 (Dr Stimmel).

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