The inverse association between the presence of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen and atopy in young adults

Some bacterial and viral infections may reduce the risk of atopy, and this is based on the concept of their ability to divert the immune system towards the Th1 responses. Most of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occur in the developing countries and this is where atopic disorders are least pre...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Korean journal of internal medicine 2005, 20(3), , pp.210-216
Main Authors: Koh, Youngil I, Choi, Inseon S, Park, Chang-Hwan, Ahn, Jae-Sook, Ji, Seung-Gyu
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Hepatitis B - virology
Hepatitis B Antibodies - immunology
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens - immunology
Hepatitis B virus
Humans
Hypersensitivity, Immediate - immunology
Immunoglobulin E - biosynthesis
Immunologic Factors
Korea - epidemiology
Male
Middle Aged
Original
Prevalence
Risk Factors
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Summary:Some bacterial and viral infections may reduce the risk of atopy, and this is based on the concept of their ability to divert the immune system towards the Th1 responses. Most of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections occur in the developing countries and this is where atopic disorders are least prevalent. Th1 responses are important for the viral clearance of HBV and also for antibody production. The aim of the study is to investigate whether the presence of antibodies to the hepatitis B surface antigen (anti-HBs) is inversely associated with atopy in adults. A random sample of 358 subjects, who were without hepatitis B surface antigen, was recruited; they were aged from 18 to 79 years (105 young adults aged 40 years). Determinations of the anti-HBs and skin prick tests using aeroallergens were performed. Those subjects with one or more positive skin reactions (a mean wheal diameter 23 mm) were considered atopic. The prevalence rate of atopy (p=0.035) or the sensitization to Dermatophagoides farinae (p=0.01) was significantly lower in the subjects with anti-HBs than in those subjects without anti-HBs for the young adults, but not for the older adults. The logistic regression analysis that was done on the young adults showed that the presence of anti-HBs was associated with a significantly lower risk of atopy (the odds ratio adjusted for confounding variables = 0.40 [95% CI 0.16-0.981, p=0.046) or with the sensitization to D. farinae (0.20 [0.06-0.65], p = 0.008). The presence of anti-HBs produced by a natural HBV infection or vaccination might be inversely associated with atopy in young adults.
ISSN:1226-3303
2005-6648
DOI:10.3904/kjim.2005.20.3.210