title: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) subtypes and indices of clinical disease.
abstract: Serial serum samples of prospectively studied patients exposed to plasma containing both adw and ayw subtypes of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) were studied for the relationship of HBS Ag subtype to several indices of clinical type B hepatitis. Seventy-four patients circulated HBS Ag that could be subtyped; 50 subtype adw, 22 ayw, and 2 adyw. Although the average incubation period among adw cases was shorter than among ayw cases (P less than 0.05), no additional significant differences were detected between these two groups of patients when analyzed for severity and chronicity of disease. The chronic HBS Ag carrier state developed in 16% (8 of 50) adw cases and in 9% (2 of 22) ayw cases, but this difference was not statistically significant. Judging from these data, it was concluded that the severity and outcome of type B hepatitis are probably independent of HBS Ag subtypes d and y.
mesh_terms: D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens