The window period between hepatitis B e antigen and antibody in chronic type hepatitis.
To examine the period between disappearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and appearance of anti-HBe, 48 patients with clinicopathologically verified chronic B hepatitis were followed every 1 to 3 months after HBeAg clearance. Sera were tested by radioimmunoassay for HBeAg and anti-HBe. Anti-HBe appeared in days to years, mostly (78.7%) within 1 year, after disappearance of HBeAg. Only 40.5% of patients had an "e-window" shorter than 1 month. Clinical and histological exacerbation preceding HBeAg clearance precipitated or accelerated appearance of anti-HBe. Since the patients in the "e-window" period were positive for DNA polymerase, it is suggested that the "e-window" reflects relative insensitivity of the radioimmunoassay rather than absence of HBeAg/anti-HBe. Therefore, HBeAg can reappear and clinical activity can relapse particularly during immunosuppressive therapy.
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase