Hepatitis B and C in alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a UK alcohol inpatient treatment unit

The prevalence of hepatitis B and C infection was studied in a sample of alcohol-dependent patients admitted to a specialist alcohol inpatient unit to identify factors associated with hepatitis B and C infection. Laboratory, clinical and socio-demographic data were collected from 277 admissions over a 3-year period who were tested routinely for markers of hepatitis B and C infection. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis C, 27 (9.8%) were positive to the hepatitis anti-HCV IgG antibody. Of the 275 subjects tested for hepatitis B, 30 (10.9%) were positive to the hepatitis anti-HBc IgG antibody. Few differences were found between hepatitis B positive and negative subjects. Hepatitis C positive individuals were more likely than Hepatitis C negative patients to have also been infected with the hepatitis B virus (p<0.001), to have an unplanned discharge (p<0.005) and to have ever used cannabis (p<0.005), cocaine (p<0.001), amphetamines (p<0.001) or heroin (p<0.001). They were also more likely to have a co-morbid antisocial personality disorder (p<0.001) a lifetime diagnosis of opiate dependence (p<0.001) and cocaine dependence (p<0.005), higher serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels (p<0.05) and a lower platelet count (p<0.05). These findings may help clinicians to identify those alcohol dependent patients with risk factors for hepatitis virus infection.