title: Hepatitis B infections in renal transplantied patients.
abstract: Multiple serum samples collected from ten renal transplanted patients were examined by means of radioimmunoassay procedures in order to check and quantitate both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and antibody to it (anti-HBs). The anticomplementary activity of serum, levels of serum immunoglobulins and other laboratory parameters were also tested and related to the clinical followup of patients in the pre- and post-operative period, during which they underwent immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone and antilymphocyte globulin. The results obtained provided evdence that all subjects under examination either were currently infected or had been previously exposed to hepatitis B virus. Five basic situations could be detected: state of persistent HBs Ag carrier (I) or of persistent positivity for anti-HBs (II) or reinfections (IV) and presence of HBs Ag/anti-HBs immunocomplexes (V). All HBs Ag and anti-HBs-positive sera were ayw subtype, which is typical for hepatitis B virus circulating in Italy.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens