title: The absence of hepatitis B virus DNA in hepatitis B e antigen positive sera from chronic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers in China.
abstract: Sera from 20 Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B were examined for hepatitis B e antigen and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. There was considerable discordance with HBV DNA not being detectable in 10 out of 13 (77%) patients who were hepatitis B e antigen positive. Further testing for anti-HBe and HBV-DNA polymerase activity confirmed the results. Possible reasons for this discordance are discussed but neither hepatitis D (delta) infection nor the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) could be implicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Queensland, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Sloots
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cooksley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000032:analysis / Q000201:enzymology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D015483:HIV Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase