Correlation of hepatitis B surface antigen clearance with the route of hepatitis B virus infection.
We studied 563 consecutive adults with acute hepatitis B hospitalized from May 1981 to May 1983 and their habitual heterosexual partners. Radio-immunoassays for the detection of serological markers of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) and enzyme-immunoassay for the detection of IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) were used. Of the 563 patients, 503 (89.7%) were hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive and 60 (10.7%) were HBsAg negative on admission. Absence of HBsAg on admission was observed significantly more frequently in patients infected possibly by the heterosexual route than in the remaining patients (23.3% versus 6.6%; P less than 0.001). This finding was independent of sex. These data show that the route of HBV infection rather than the sex appears to have a more important role in the rapid clearance of HBsAg.
Tassopoulos
N C
NC
Department of Medicine, Western Attica General Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Papaevangelou
G J
GJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D015229:Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral / Q000276:immunology*
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens