Studies of the "e" antigen in acute and chronic hepatitis.
Sera from well individuals, including controls and asymptomatic HBsAg carriers, post-transfusion hepatitis cases, and chronic active liver disease patients were examined for the presence of "e" antigen and e antibody by rheophoresis. Our data confirm the specific association between the e determinant and hepatitis B infections and indicate that e antigen is closely associated with evidence of chronic hepatic dysfunction, in contrast to the association of e antibody with hepatic normalcy in HBsAg carriers. However, these correlations are not absolute and, therefore, it should not be inferred that all e antigen-positive individuals will develop chronic hepatitis nor, conversely, that presence of e antibody invariably protects against the development of chronic hepatitis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000939:Epitopes; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens