title: Multivariate analysis of prognostic factors in fulminant hepatitis B.
abstract: We assessed prognostic factors in 115 patients with serologically defined fulminant hepatitis B. The diagnosis in each case was based on the finding of IgM antibody to the hepatitis B core antigen in serum. Multivariate analysis showed that factor V level (p less than 0.001), patient's age (p = 0.001), absence of detectable HBsAg by radioimmunoassay (p = 0.06) and serum alpha-fetoprotein concentration (p = 0.07) were independent predictors of survival. The survival rate in the 21 patients in whom HBsAg was not detected was 47%, which was significantly higher than the survival rate of 17% observed in the 94 HBsAg-positive patients (p = 0.006). In patients with fulminant hepatitis B, the absence of HBsAg in serum as detected by radioimmunoassay has an independent, favorable prognostic value.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005165:Factor V / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000401:mortality; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006716:Homosexuality; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D005165:Factor V