title: Hepatitis B e antigen and antibody activity in hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Groups of institutionalized subjects, volunteer blood donors with serologic evidence of asymptomatic hepatitis B virus infection, and patients with acute type B viral hepatitis were studied for the presence of hepatitis B e antigen and antibody in a sequential manner over a period of two to three years. HBeAg was detected in 9.5% of institutionalized residents and volunteer blood donors and in 24% of patients with acute type B viral hepatitis. HBeAg positive subjects frequently had persistently elevated pyruvic glutamic transaminase levels in the serum. Anti HBe activity was observed in 26 to 32% of subjects positive for hepatitis B surface antigen. Long-term follow-up indicated that HBsAg positive subjects with anti HBe did not eventually become seronegative for HBsAg.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002353:Carrier State; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase