title: [Markers of viral replication (HBeAg and DNA polymerase activity) in chronic uremia, HBsAg positive, hemodialysis patients].
abstract: The contagiousness of hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with end-stage renal disease undergoing chronic hemodialysis has been ascribed to an immunologic tolerance for HBV antigens, especially hepatitis B core antigen, supporting persistently high levels of virus replication. In this context hepatitis B e antigen and core-associated DNA polymerase (DNA P) activity have proved to be distinct markers of HBV replication. In order to evaluate the potential infectivity of these subjects, thirty-five HBsAg positive hemodialysis patients were studied for the presence of HBeAg/anti-HBe system correlating the results with serum DNA P activity. Twenty out of 35 patients were HBeAg positive (57%) and 21 DNA P positive (60%). A highly significant correlation (P less than 0,001) was recorded between detection of HBeAg and presence of serum DNA P activity. These findings confirm that the majority of hemodialysis patients carrying HBsAg show high levels of virus replication so that the determination of HBeAg and DNA P activity other than HBsAg is required for the identification of patients highly infectious.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D014511:Uremia / Q000276:immunology*; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase
vernacular_title: Markers di replicazione virale (HBeAg e attivita' DNA polymerasica) nello uremico cronico in trattamento emodialitico periodico portatore dell'HBsAg.