title: Immune response in fulminant viral hepatitis, type B.
abstract: Serial serum samples from the time of exposure until fatal outcome in 3 patients with fulminant viral hepatitis, type B, were examined for the presence of the antigens associated with hepatitis, type B, and their corresponding antibodies. The titers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) were found to decrease by greater than 50% before death. Antibody to surface antigen (anti-HBs) was not detectable in any sample. Patterns of antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc)), HBsAg subtype "e" antigen, and anti- "e" were unremarkable, and could not be distinguished from those that might occur in many self-limited cases of hepatitis, type B. A rise in alpha-fetoprotein before demise suggests that late but inadequate liver regeneration occurred in these patients.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins