Subtypes of HBsAg among hepatitis patients.
Serum samples from 94 Finnish hospital patients with hepatitis B were investigated for subtypes of HBsAg. Subtype ay predominated in patients with acute hepatitis (77%). All drug abusers had the ay subtype. Of 11 patients with chronic liver disease, 10 (91%) had the ad subtype. Five of 7 hepatitis cases associated with blood transfusion had subtype ay, although this determinant has not been detected among Finnish non-paid blood donors. These results suggest that blood donors who incubate hepatitis B (HBsAg not yet detectable) are an important source of transfusion hepatitis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002908:Chronic Disease; D000939:Epitopes; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders
D000939:Epitopes; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens