title: [The interrelationships of hepatitis B e antigen antibody and HBsAg-circulating immune complexes in asymptomatic HBsAg carriers].
abstract: The prevalence of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers and positive rate of HBsAg immune complexes (HBsAg-CICs) were comparatively higher among Chinese. The former is considered to be related with hepatitis B e antigen and the latter is not clear yet. In order to investigate the relationship between HBsAg-CICs and e antigen antibody among asymptomatic carriers. 90 subjects of carriers was tested for HBsAg-CICs by PEG-trypsinisation method and for e antigen antibody by radio-immunoassay. HBsAg-CICs were positive in 66 subjects among 90 carriers. The concentration of HBsAg-CICs (ng/ml) was significantly higher among 32 subjects with positive HBeAg (333.87 +/- 265.39) than 27 subjects with positive anti-HBe (181.03 +/- 162.05), p less than 0.02. Furthermore, the positive rate of e antigen and e antibody was just contrary among carriers with positive and negative HBsAg-CICs. Among 24 subjects with negative HBsAg-CICs, the percentage of positive HBeAg was much lower than positive e antibody. A significant interrelationship was present between positive or negative HBsAg-CICs and e antigen, antibody, the statistically significant was proved by the Chi square test. The above results showed that the high prevalence of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers among Chinese may be related to e antigen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medicine Center, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: C T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens