Hepatitis B serology in Greek prostitutes: significance of the different serum markers.

One hundred and ninety-eight prostitutes (mean age 41.8 years) and 117 control women of low socio-economic class (mean age 43.8 years) were tested by solid-phase radioimmunoassay for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), its antibody (anti-HBs) and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). The prevalence of HBsAg was higher among prostitutes (11% v. 4%, P approximately 0.06). This difference was accounted for by the higher infection rate of prostitutes to hepatitis B virus (HBV) 97% v. 45%, P less than 10(-6)), since the proportion of HBsAg carriers among those infected was practically the same between the two groups (11% v. 9%). Among the previously infected prostitutes who did not become carriers the majority (75%) were positive for both anti-HBc and anti-HBs, whereas among control women about half (52%) were positive only for anti-HBc.