ANTIGENEMIA HBs AND OTHER SEROLOGICAL MARKERS OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE AND CHRONIC ALCOHOLISM

Serological markers of hepatitis B virus infection were studiedin a group of recently presenting alcoholic out-patients andcompared with a group of long-stay in-patients suffering fromchronic alcoholism. All markers of infection were increasedin the chronic group and Were thought to be related to admissionto the Alcohol Unit. Although both groups had normal liver functiontests, the patients with the longer alcohol history had evidenceof two coexisting causes of liver disease and may, therefore,have a much poorer prognosis.