title: Expression of preS antigens in serum during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection.
abstract: Serum patterns of preS gene encoded proteins during the chronic phase of hepatitis B virus infection and their relationship with hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen were investigated. The results indicate that the presence of preS1 and/or preS2 antigens in serum does not correlate with circulating hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid and hepatitis B 'e' antigen. It is, therefore, suggested that preS antigens cannot be regarded as specific markers of active viral replication in chronically hepatitis B virus infected patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio di Immunopathologia, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, Specializzato in Gastroenterologia, Castellana Grotte, Bari, Italia.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Napoli
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Schiraldi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Modugno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011498:Protein Precursors; D014759:Viral Envelope Proteins; C050807:presurface protein 2, hepatitis B surface antigen