title: Hepatitis B virus markers in 97 long-term hemodialysis patients.
abstract: A study was undertaken to assess the state of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in hemodialysis patients. From 97 hemodialysis patients tested, 51 were found to have at least one hepatitis B virus specific marker. 18 were HBsAg carriers, 12 of these carriers have to be regarded as infectious as judged from the presence of HBeAg and/or HBV-specific DNA polymerase activity in the serum. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were found in the sera of approximately 20% of the hemodialysis patients with a high prevalence in cases which lacked HBV markers. We conclude from our study that HBsAg-positive hemodialysis patients should be dialyzed in a separate unit and preferably served by personnel which is anti-HBs-positive. The question whether patients in which anti-HBc represents the only HBV marker should be separated is still open and needs further work. The role of non-A/non-B infection is difficult to determine and further studies are needed to elucidate this question.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens