Use of the polymerase chain reaction to demonstrate hepatitis B virus DNA in serum of children with chronic hepatitis B.
The polymerase chain reaction was used to investigate the presence of hepatitis B virus DNA in sera of 61 children with chronic hepatitis B and negative results on dot blot hybridization tests. Our results demonstrate that most chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen in childhood have hepatitis B virus DNA detectable by polymerase chain reaction in their serum and must be considered infectious.
Wirth
S
S
Children's Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
Möllers
U
U
Keller
K M
KM
Winterpacht
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens