Hepatitis B Seroprevalence and Disease Characteristics in an Urban Chinatown Community

The HBsAg seroprevalence was high (11.1%) in Chinese immigrants presenting for general medical care. A majority (75%) of HBsAg+ patients were HBeAg-. Sixty percent of HBeAg+ cases and 16% of HBeAg- patients with available data had both HBV DNA and ALT levels that would prompt consideration of antiviral therapy. These findings highlight the importance of testing and medical management of hepatitis B in Chinese Americans.