title: Hepatitis B virus replication in southern Africa blacks with HBsAg-positive hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Sera from 106 southern African blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma and hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBsAg) were tested for hepatitis B viral DNA (HBV-DNA) activity, HBV-DNA polymerase concentrations, and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe) to investigate the state of viral replication in these patients. HBeAg and anti-HBe were detected by radioimmunoassay, HBV-DNA by molecular hybridization using a 32p-labeled HBV-DNA probe, and HBV-DNA polymerase was measured by incorporation of 3H-labeled thymidine triphosphate into double-stranded HBV-DNA. HBeAg was present in 30.2% (32/106) of the patients, almost always in low titer; 63.8% of the patients were anti-HBe positive. Circulating HBV-DNA was detected in 18.8% (20/106) of patients, including 14 of 32 (43.7%) who were HBeAg positive and 6 of 74 (8.1%) who were anti-HBe positive. In most patients, only trace amounts of HBV-DNA were evident. Raised HBV-DNA polymerase activity was found in 5.6% (6/106) of the patients, all of whom were HBeAg positive and 4 of whom had detectable amounts of circulating HBV-DNA. The HBV-DNA polymerase activity was relatively low in these patients. HBV replication thus appears to be present in only a minority of southern African Blacks with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma, and when present is of low grade activity.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000353:Africa, Southern; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens