Discordance of hepatitis B e antigen/antibody and hepatitis B virus deoxyribonucleic acid in serum. Analysis of 1063 specimens.
Hepatitis B virus DNA was determined in 1063 serum samples from 252 patients with hepatitis B surface antigen by the spot hybridization technique. The results were correlated with hepatitis B e antigen and antibody. Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 87% of hepatitis B e antigen-positive patients, in 18% of hepatitis B e antibody-positive patients, and in 18% of those negative for both. Discordance of antigen/antibody and hepatitis B virus DNA, i.e., the presence of the DNA in antibody-positive sera or the absence of the DNA in antigen-positive sera, was observed in 209 of 997 (21%) samples. Of 121 patients with histologic diagnosis, this discordance was observed in none of 20 patients with nonspecific changes, in 13% of 39 with chronic persistent hepatitis, in 21% of 38 with chronic active hepatitis, and in 38% of 24 with cirrhosis. Thus, hepatitis B e antigen/antibody testing alone failed to predict the presence or absence of circulating hepatitis B virion in a significant proportion of patients with advanced chronic liver disease.
D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000637:Transaminases