e-Antigen in patients with transient and chronic carriership of hepatitis B antigen.
Serum samples from 39 patients with hepatitis B antigen (HBSAg) were studied for presence of e-antigen. 21 patients had HBSAg transiently and 18 were carriers of HBSAg for 14 months or more. All serum samples from the 18 carriers reacted in the e-antigen system; 16 individuals had e-antigen and 2 had anti-e. In contrast, only 3 of the 21 patients with transient HBS-antigenemia were found to have e-antigen. The clinical course of 31 of the 39 patients was followed from the acute stage. All of the 18 patients who did not develop e-antigen became free from symptoms within 13 weeks. In the remaining 13 patients e-antigen was found and 10 became chronic HBSAg-carriers; 4 with biopsy-verified chronic hepatitis and 6 with biochemical findings consistent with this diagnosis.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000941:Antigens; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D000637:Transaminases