title: Multiple hepatitis B virus markers in dialysis patients.
abstract: 1. Use of multiple serological markers was of value to determine different hepatitis B profiles in dialysis patients. 2. HBSAg and anti-HBS alone are insufficient to eliminate the risk of hepatitis B virus infection. Anti-HBC was detected as the only marker in 3.5% of the patients, and these patients should be considered potentially infectious. 3. The incidence of hepatitis B was higher in "in-center" hemodialysis patients (81%) compared to home hemodialysis patients (38.4%), and CAPD patients (23.2%). 4. Most of the patients (39.4%) demonstrated that they already had hepatitis B virus infection and had developed persisting immunity. 5. Eighteen patients (10.5%) should be regarded as highly infectious according to their profile (Pattern III). 6. Two patients had an unusual pattern that showed persistent co-existence of HBSAG+ and anti-HBS+, plus HBeAg+ and anti-HBc+. This pattern was due to reinfection with a different subtype of hepatitis B virus.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens