부산대학교 도서관

We determined the prevalence of hepatitis virus carriers in a large population of hospitalized dental patients. The serum chemistries and bleeding tendencies associated with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) also were evaluated. Twelve hundred thirty-nine consecutive hospitalized patients in a dental ward were questioned regarding a medical history of liver disease. Blood samples were taken for blood chemistry and platelet count. Serum HBs antigen and HCV antibody also were measured. Sixteen of 998 inpatients had serum HBs antigen (1.6%), while 60 of 918 were HCV seropositive (6.1%). Ninety-seven patients had a present or past history of liver disease (7.8%), and the other 1142 had no history of liver disease. The prevalence of both HBs antigen and HCV antibody was much higher in the former than in the latter. This group had increased serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, and fasting plasma glucose. Blood platelet counts in hepatic disease subjects were decreased. We determined that in a large population of dental college hospital inpatients, the occurrence of HBs antigen was 1.6%, and that of HCV antibody 6.1%, which is greater than in the general population. In patients with a history of liver disease dentists should take care to avoid exposure to viruses.