title: The frequency of hepatitis B surface antigen in membranous nephropathy in black and white South Africans.
abstract: A series of 244 renal biopsy specimens obtained from patients with glomerulonephritis included 21 from patients with membranous nephropathy (MN). Of these patients 14 (10,7%) were Black, 1 was Indian and 6 were White (5,5%). It is suggested that the high frequency of MN in Black patients may be associated with the high carrier rate (7 - 10%) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Black population. Twenty of the 21 renal specimens were investigated for deposits of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method. HBsAg deposits were found in 13 of the specimens obtained from Black patients, in the specimen obtained from the Indian patient and in 1 of the 6 specimens obtained from White patients. HBV appears to be an important aetiological factor in MN in Black South African patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D005921:Glomerulonephritis / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens