American Journal of Epidemiology Vol. 92, No. 1: 51-61
Copyright © 1970 by The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health
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THE SERUM HEPATITIS VIRUS SPECIFIC ANTIGEN (SH): A PRELIMINARY REPORT OF EPIDEMIOLOGIC STUDIES IN AN INSTITUTION FOR THE MENTALLY RETARDED1
Szmuness, W. (New York Blood Center, 310 E. 67th St., N. Y., N. Y. 10021), R. Pick and A. M. Prince. The serum hepatitis virus specific antigen (SH): a preliminary report of epidemiologic studies in an institution for the mentally retarded. Amer. J. Epid., 1970, 92: 51–61.-SH antigen was detected in 35.1% of patients with Down's syndrome and in 17.2% of a matched sample of patients with other forms of mental retardation. One-half of the antigen carriers had biochemical signs of chronic active anicteric hepatitis. The duration of the carrier state appears to be longer in Down's syndrome patients. Statistical associations between the occurrence of the carrier state and different risk factors have been established. Among these, age at the time of exposure appeared to be the most important. Certain epidemiologic conditions peculiar to this population appear to favor nonparenteral transmission of SH virus(s). Due to limitations in sample size and design of the study, these hypotheses require further evaluation in other populations.
Australia/SH antigen; carrier state; Down's syndrome; epidemiology; hepatitis, chronic; mental retardation; serum hepatitis; virology
1From the New York Blood Center, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, N. Y., and Suffolk State School, Long Island, N. Y. This study was supported by NIH grants #TI AM 6430 and HE 09011 and a grant-in-aid from The Strasburger Foundation. A. M. Prince is the recipient of a Career Scientist Award of the Health Research Council of the City of New York under Contract #1–533.