title: The role of circulating hepatitis B antigen/antibody immune complexes in the pathogenesis of vascular and hepatic manifestations in polyarteritis nodosa.
abstract: To investigate further the role of hepatitis B antigen (HBs Ag) and specific immune complexes in polyarteritis, sera from 55 histologically confirmed cases were tested for the presence of hepatitis B antigen-associated particles and hepatitis B-antibody (anti HBs) by solid phase radio-immunoassay, electron microscopy, and passive haemagglutination. Results of these findings have been correlated with the clinical course of the disease.HBs Ag was detected in 30 patients (54.5%) and anti HBs in 13/45 (28%). Subtyping in 20 patients revealed that 11 were Y and 9 D. Thirty-seven cases (69%) demonstrated either HBs Ag or anti HBs and 5/45 (11%) had both. Electron microscopic examination showed 20 nm spherical and tubular particles in sera of 20/27 patients with 42 nm particles in 11 cases and clumped particles in 12 (60%). No correlation was found between detection of immune complexes and liver disease whereas the presence of coexisting hepatitis B antigen and antibody or aggregated particles was restricted to cases of active vasculitis. Seroconversion or the presence of hepatitis B antibody alone was associated with improved prognosis. Circulating hepatitis B antigen antibody complexes may be responsible for vasculitis or polyarteritis but do not appear to be pathogenic for the liver.
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens