Cytogenetic findings correlated with immune response to hepatitis virus B of institutionalized Down syndrome individuals
Smith, A.; Boughton, C.R.; Hawkes, R.A.; Schroeter, D.R.
American Journal of Mental Deficiency 87(2): 223-226
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9351 PMID: 6214954 Document Number: 194751
A cytogenetic study of 109 Down syndrome subjects and 79 individuals with mental retardation due to other causes was undertaken in conjunction with a study of the response of these individuals to hepatitis B virus infection. A significantly higher proportion of Down syndrome subjects (26%) showed chronic hepatitis B surface antigenemia than did the non-Down syndrome patients (3%); though roughly the same proportion (2 of 3) of Down and non-Down syndrome individuals had hepatitis B surface antigen antibody (anti-HBs), the Down syndrome individuals had a lower geometric mean titer. In relating these findings to the karyotype, there was a significant difference in 1 group; mosaic Down syndrome was associated with a low anti-HBs titer with slightly greater than expected frequency (P < 0.05).