Serum hepatitis B virus DNA in hepatitis B virus seropositive and seronegative patients with normal liver function.
The presence of hepatitis type B virus (HBV) DNA in serum specimens from 926 apparently healthy people with normal liver functions was determined by polymerase chain reaction; 41.2% of people with positive results for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) (94 of 228) and 95.2% of people with positive results for HBV e antigen (HBeAg) (60 of 63) were found to have positive results for serum HBV DNA. On the other hand, serum HBV DNA was found in 11.0% (77 of 698) of HBsAg-negative people and in 13% (69 of 530) of those who had positive results for serum antibodies directed against HBsAg. The results seem to suggest that HBV DNA can be found in a significant portion of apparently healthy people with normal liver function who are either seronegative for HBsAg or seropositive for antibodies directed against HBsAg.
Pao
C C
CC
Department of Biochemistry, Chang Gung Medical College, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yao
D S
DS
Lin
C Y
CY
Kao
S M
SM
Tsao
K C
KC
Sun
C F
CF
Liaw
Y F
YF
D001483:Base Sequence; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012698:Serologic Tests
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes