Hepatitis B in a West Indian population in the United Kingdom.

The prevalence ofmarkers ofhepatitis B virus infection shows considerable geographic variation, often bein8 high in tropical areas where the standard of living is low. While the high prevalence in the far east is maintained by vertical transmission from mother to baby in the perinatal period,' in Africa infection is usually transmitted horizontally during infancy.2 In the West Indies the prevalence ofcarriage ofhepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is0O4-1%,34 varying between islands and according to the sensitivity of the test used, but we are unaware of any report on prevalence Hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers in native West Indians, first generation West Indians born Britain, and white patients Mean No (%) positive for: (%) Positive Country of (SD) age for al HBV Ethnic group birth (years) HBsAg HBsAb HBcAb marker Negro (West Indian) West Indies 33-0 (8-9) among West Indians in the United Kingdom. To assess the need for screening for markers of hepatitis B virus in this group we determined the prevalence among West Indians and their descendants attending a department ofgenitourinary medicine in the district of Lambeth. Methods and results Serum samples were collected from 454 heterosexual West Indian negroes (195 born in the West Indies and 259 first generation, born in Britain of West Indian descent) and 180 white heterosexuals attending the department of genitourinary medicine at this hospital during February and March 1985. Each was tested for HBsAg by radioimmunoassay (Ausria II, Abbott, North Chicago, Illinois). Positive results were confirmed using 0 1% modified reverse passive haem-agglutination, and these serum samples were then tested for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (HBeAb) by radioimmunoassay. All samples negative for HBsAg were tested for antibody to surface antigen (HBsAb). A sample with a result higher than a 50 IU control was considered to be positive for HBsAb, as was one below the 50 IU control but with-a result above the cut offfor the kit ifit was positive for antibody (IgG) to core antigen (HBcAb). Random samples negative for other markers of hepatitis B virus were also tested for HBcAb by enzyme immunoassay (Corzyme, Abbott). Statistical analysis was by x2 with Yates's correction. The table compares the prevalence of markers of hepatitis B virus infection in native West Indians with that in first generation patients of West Indian descent born in Britain and white patients. All markers were more common in native West Indians; 18X5% of this group were positive …