A Survey of Hepatitis B Virus Markers by EIA Method among Steel Manufacturing Workers.
- Author:
Jung Gu KIRN
1
;
Bbk Dong NAM
;
Sam Deug BAE
;
Myung Wha HA
;
Doo Hie KIM
;
Seung Won KANG
;
Jong Young LEE
Author Information
1. Health Care Center, POSCO, Po.hang, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Epidemiology;
Hepatitis B Virus Markers;
Iron and Steel Manufacturing Workers
- MeSH:
Alcohol Drinking;
Education;
Epidemiology;
Gyeongsangbuk-do;
Hepatitis B e Antigens;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens;
Hepatitis B virus*;
Hepatitis B*;
Hepatitis*;
Humans;
Iron;
Liver;
Liver Diseases;
Liver Function Tests;
Male;
Mass Screening;
Seroepidemiologic Studies;
Smoke;
Smoking;
Steel*
- From:Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
1996;8(2):249-257
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
A study for seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg and Anti-HBe) by EIA method and the Liver Function Test(SGOT and SGPT) using kinetic method was carried :out from January; to October 1995 :among male workers of a .major iron and steel manufacturing company, located,,in Pohang. The results were as follows; 1. The distribution of hepatitis B virus markers showed that the proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-), HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) 'and HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (+) were 8.1%, 60.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg in all subjects was 8.2% whereas that of anti-HBs was 60.6%. 2. The proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) increased significantly with age. While the distribution of hepatitis B virus markers exhibited no significant differences among the groups classified by educational background or work type. 3. The proportion of drinkers in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) (73; 9%) was significantly lower than those of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (+) (84.6% and 85.7% respectively). The proportions of smoking for the three groups of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs(+),-HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) were 54.3%, 53.7% and 53.0%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of the subjects with abnormal liver function test in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) was 40.1%, whereas those in HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) were 21.9% and 18.4%, respectively. 4. The distribution of e Ag markers among HBsAg (+) subjects showed that the proportions of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-), HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) and HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(+) were 31.3%, 55.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The proportion of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-) decreased significantly with age and those of HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(-) and HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) increased with age. The positive rate of HBeAg among HBsAg (+) subjects was 32.9%. In conclusion, as a screening method, EIA is. recommended to test hepatitis B virus markers, especially when examining Anti-HBs more sensitively. For the workers of the iron and steel manufacturing company studied, liver diseases caused by other than hepatitis B should be given a special care including an education avoiding alcohol drinking.
