title: Hepatitis B and the dialysis and renal transplantation unit.
abstract: Different facets of hepatitis B infections are encountered in a renal unit. The viral antigens are implicated in the pathogenesis of some cases of glomerulonephritis. Hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigenaemia frequently persists in dialysis patients who contract the virus and presents a significant health hazard to the attendant staff. Persistent HBs antigenaemia does not jeopardise renal allograft survival. The effect of anti-HBs antibodies is not clear. Transplantation can reactivate latent hepatitis B infections and render patients HBs antigen (HBsAg)-positive. Hepatic malignancies have been observed and increased patient mortality reported in HBsAg-positive renal allograft recipients. The effect of immunosuppression and maternal viral infection on the fetus is open to speculation.
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D005260:Female; D006085:Graft Survival; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007668:Kidney / Q000276:immunology; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011247:Pregnancy; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens