Seroprevalence of hepatitis B virus markers among adult in a Youngdong area of Kwangwon Province

Oh, Mi Kyeong; Kim, Jong Sung; Lee, Yong Bin; Han, Joo Hyun

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Hepatitis B is a leading cause of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocelluar carcinoma. It is a well-known fact that Korea is one of the hyperenedemic areas of Hepatitis B virus among East Asian countries. Many pnst reports have shown that positive rate of HBsAg in Korea was about 6-14%. But precise data for Yongdong area of Kwangwon Province in Korea was lacking. Here authors report on the prevalence of viral markers of hepatitis B among adults in this area. method: Sera were collected from 7469 residents in Yongdong area of Kwangwon Province who visited the Health Care Center, Asan Kangnung Hospital from September 11th to August 31th. HBsAg, AntiHBc-IgG, and AntiHBs were tested by radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS
Positive rate of HBsAg of total study subjects was 8.5%, and was significantly decreased as age increased, and higher in males(10.2%) than in females(6.6%). Positive rate for one or more markers among HBsAg, AntiHBc-IgG, and AntiHBs was 84%, and was significantly increased as age increased, and higher in males(86.2%) than in females(81.2%). All negative rate for HBsAg, AntiHBc-IgG, and AntiHBs was 16.0% and all positive rate was 0.5%. Positive rate of AntiHBc-IgG without HBsAg and AntiHBs was 15.7% Positive rate of AntiHBs without HBsAg and AntiHBc-IgG was 11.7%. Positive rate of AntiHBc-IgG and AntiHBs was 72.1% and 60.2%, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS
There was no significant difference in positive rate of HBsAg between this study for residents in Yongdong area of Kwangwon Province and past many reports. 84% of the total study subjects showed serological evidence of previous exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV) naturally exposed or by vaccine immunization. 16% of the total study subjects was a proper candidate for hepatitis B vaccination.