[Polymerase chain reaction in the detection of hepatitis B virus carriers with sole positive anti-hepatitis B core antigen].
To assess the prevalence of serum HBV DNA in the individuals with positive anti-HBc alone, seroepidemiologic investigations in three populations were carried out with polymerase chain reaction. The detection of sole anti-HBc were 21 of 294 (7.1%), 193 of 1995 (9.7%) and 23 of 377 (6.1%) individuals respectively. Among the anti-HBc positive sera, HBV DNA was detected in 6 (28.6%), 68 (35.2%) and 7 (30.4%) respectively. Follow-up observations showed that 83.8%, 93.1% and 71.4% still remained HBV DNA positive respectively. These might be reasonably regarded as chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers with undetectable HBsAg.
Luo
K
K
Nanfang Hospital, 1st Military Medical University, Guangzhou.
D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens