title: [Viral nucleic acids in the serum of hepatitis B patients].
abstract: Detection of hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV-DNA) is the most reliable test for infectivity of a patient's serum. HBV-DNA was detected by spot hybridization on nylon membrane. HBV-DNA was detected during the first or second week of jaundice in 22/133 (16.5%) sera from patients with acute hepatitis who did not develop chronic disease later on. However, in patients with acute hepatitis who later on developed the chronic form, HBV-DNA was found in 12/12 (100%) cases in the first or second week after onset. In other patients who had chronic hepatitis for longer than one year HBV-DNA was detected in 92/113 (81.4%) sera when HBe antigen was also detectable and in 11/104 (10.6%) when HBe antibodies were found. HBV-DNA was present in 32/38 (84.2%) sera from healthy antigen carriers when HBe antigen was detected and only in 2/173 (1.2%) sera of HBe antibody positive HBs antigen carriers. The highest levels of HBV-DNA were found in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection who were found in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection who were on haemodialysis therapy. Almost all had HBe antigen and HBV-DNA was also detectable in 82/84 (97%) sera. 11/28 (39.3%) sera from patients with chronic hepatitis B as well as HIV infection showed HBV-DNA. Detection of HBV-DNA has significantly improved the accuracy of diagnosis of hepatitis B viral infection.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Virologie, Universität Wien.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tuma
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kunz
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / 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 / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens
vernacular_title: Virale Nukleinsäure im Serum von Hepatitis-B-Patienten.