title: Detection of hepatitis B viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen.
abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was assayed using the polymerase chain reaction in serum samples of 116 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, including 30 positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 86 negative for HBeAg. In the HBeAg-positive group, all were positive for HBV DNA. In the HBeAg-negative group, 80.2% were positive for HBV DNA (80.0% in the healthy carrier group, 90.0% in the chronic active liver disease group, and 69.2% in patients with cirrhosis). This study indicated that every HBeAg-positive carrier as well as the majority of HBeAg-negative carriers were infectious and, in the latter group, that viral replication is most active in patients with chronic active liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Republic of China.
authors.forename: L N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Sheu
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens