title: Use of the polymerase chain reaction to demonstrate hepatitis B virus DNA in serum of children with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wirth
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Möllers
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Winterpacht
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens