title: Discordant e antigen, DNA polymerase activity, and Dane particle responses in two patients representing an index case-contact case pair with hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Discordant results for e antigen, DNA polymerase activity, and Dane particle frequency were noted in the sera of two patients representing an index case-contact case pair with chronic aggressive hepatitis B. The lack of correlation between presence of e antigen and the infecting viral strain, as well as the strong relationship of e antigen to persistent and significant viremia, emphasize the role of the host's immune response in the expression of this antigen.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase