title: Relation of e antigen to hepatitis B virus infection in an area of hyperendemicity.
abstract: A study of the e determinant of hepatitis B surface antigen in an area of hepatitis B hyperendemicity revealed that the presence of e antigen or of antibody to e in the sera of individuals was specifically related to evidence of past or present infection with hepatitis B virus. Among asymptomatic long-term carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen, presence of the e antigen was associated with elevated levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases in serum; this observation suggested that the e antigen might be a marker for persisting hepatic dysfunction. Higher levels of DNA polymerase found in carriers of the surface antigen with e antigen suggested that these individuals might have a higher level of circulating Dane particles and thus, perhaps, a higher level of hepatitis B virus infectivity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000413:Alaska; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000097:blood; D000939:Epitopes; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; D000939:Epitopes; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases