[Immunological detection of aflatoxin-albumin adducts in children with chronic hepatitis B infection].

The value of aflatoxins is well known as a carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic, likewise its association with the hepatitis B virus. In addition, it is known the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in such viral infection. A study was performed on the albumin adducts-aflatoxins levels in sera determined by ELISA method of children within 3-15 years old at the Service of Pediatric Gastroenterology from the National Institute of Gastroenterology. Samples consisted of 40 patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) B, 10 HBsAg+ carriers and 20 controls. The CAH group, showed a 32.5% of positiveness with a maximum levels of 25pg aflatoxin lysine/mg albumin while 20% of HBsAg positive carriers showed levels of un 12.3 pg aflatoxin lysine/mg albumin and 15% of the control group 5pg AF lysine/mg albumin. It can be observed that aflatoxin levels in patients of CAH presented values up to 5 times over the control group. This study suggest the validity of aflatoxin-albumin adducts as a marker of chronic exposure to this carcinogen and its importance in relation with the virus of hepatitis B.