Hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic liver disease and healthy controls in north-Sulawesi, Indonesia

Markers of hepatitis-B virus (HBV) infection were determined in 42 patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and in 42 age and sex matched healthy controls. At least one marker for HBV was found in 38 patients (90%) and in 29 controls (69%). HBsAg was present in 29 patients (69%) as opposed to 14 controls (33%; p less than 0.001). The very high prevalence of HBV infection, the significant difference with respect to HBV markers, particularly HBsAg, between patients and controls and in particular the high percentage of healthy HBV-carriers poses a considerable risk to the population of North-Sulawesi and stresses the need for HBV-vaccination.