title: Serological evidence of hepatitis B infection in patients with chronic liver diseases: radioimmunoassay of HBsAg and anti-HBs.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HBs was determined by a sensitive double-antibody radio-immunoassay technique in a series of patients with chronic liver diseases. HBsAg was demonstrated in 37 out of 98 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis (38%) and in 14 out of 108 patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis (13%). HBsAg was not found in any of the patients with steatosis, alcoholic cirrhosis, or primary biliary cirrhosis. In the patients with chronic hepatitis HBsAg or anti-HBs was demonstrated in 83% of the patients below 40 years of age in contrast to 48% of the patients more than 40 years of age. It is concluded that a substantial part of the patients with chronic hepatitis has serological evidence of actual or past hepatitis B virus infection. This is in contrast to the groups of patients with other chronic liver diseases.
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000150:complications; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens