E antigen in the serum of HBs antigen-positive patients on maintenance dialysis and after transplantation.
The 'e antigen' (eAg) is specifically associated with hepatitis B virus infections and appears to be a marker for the infectivity and a prognostic indicator of the chronicity of liver disease. Therefore we examined by immunodiffusion the presence of eAg in the seum of HBsAg-positive patients on maintenance dialysis. The dialysis patients had a significantly higher incidence of positive eAg compared with a group of unselected HBsAg-positive patients without renal failure. In most of the dialysis patients the microscopic findings in the liver revealed only 'minimal changes'. Three eAg-positive patients received a renal transplant. Afterwards they displayed an appreciably increased eAg-yield on immunodiffusion and histology revealed chronic persistent hepatitis. It is assumed therefore that the immunodeficiency of patients undergoing chronic haemodialysis is possibly a supporting factor in the synthesis of eAg, and will perhaps induce a more subscute and prolonged course of hepatitis. The synthesis of eAg after renal transplantation may be enhanced by the additional immunosuppressive therapy.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens