Hepatitis B surface antigen in tears and aqueous humor. A comparative study of serum hepatitis B surface antigen levels.
Tear samples of 20 patients who were determined to have positive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) after an acute hepatitis B infection and aqueous humor samples of 10 patients who were HBsAg carriers were tested for HBsAg, and the results obtained for serum and these fluids were compared. In 85% of the 20 patients who were HBsAg positive, HBsAg was found to be positive in tear samples. In 50% of the other 10 patients in aqueous humor was also found to be HBsAg positive. Our findings show that tears and aqueous humor are important in the spreading of hepatitis B infections.
Köksal
I
I
Department of Infectious Diseases, Karadeniz Technical University School of Medicine, Trabzon, Turkey.
Cetinkaya
K
K
Aker
F
F
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D013666:Tears / Q000276:immunology*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens