Persistence of Australia (Au-) Antigen among Patients in a Hospital for Mentally Retarded and its Relation to Chronic Liver Disease

Abstract

At a special hospital for severe oligophrenia all patients, 442 men and 155 women, and all members of the personnel, 688 persons, were examined for Au-antigen and antibodies against Au-antigen. 36 of the male patients proved to be Au-positive, and 33 of them were followed up for 6 months. None of the female patients or members of the personnel were Au-positive. One female patient and one female member of the personnel had antibodies. Liver biopsy specimens were obtained from 22 Au-positive and 12 Au-negative patients and necropsy specimens from 10 patients (1 Au-positive and 9 Au-negative) who had been tested for Au-antigen before death. In none of the specimens from the 23 Au-positive patients was the histological picture of the liver normal: in 15 the diagnosis was chronic persistent hepatitis, in 6 chronic aggressive hepatitis, and in 1 each cirrhosis and steatosis. Of the 21 Au-negative patients, the liver was found to be normal in 16 and to show mild or moderate signs of steatosis in 5.