title: HBe-Antigen in the course and prognosis of hepatitis B infection: a prospective study.
abstract: The prognostic significance of the HBe-antigen (HBeAg) in the course and outcome of type B hepatitis was studied prospectively in 71 susceptible oncology patients. The patients had been exposed to tumor cell vaccines inadvertently contaminated with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-containing plasma. Forty-five patients (63%) were infected. These 45 showed three types of acute seroresponse: HBsAg and HBeAg, 28 patients (62%); HBsAg alone, 8 patients (18%); and a primary antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs) response, 9 patients (20%). There was no significant difference in acute course and outcome between the two HBs-antigenemic groups. All primary anti-HBs responders had asymptomatic infections. Seventeen patients receiving chemotherapy during the period of hepatitis B exposure were significantly more prone to symptomatic infection with acute HBs-antigenemia, and 2 of these patients developed chronic active hepatitis. The HBeAg is common early in acute hepatitis B among solid tumor patients and at this stage in disease has no prognostic significance independent of HBsAg.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens