title: Persistence of HBsAg, HBeAg and anti-HBe in healthy blood donors.
abstract: The persistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), e antigen (HGeAg) and antibodies to e antigen (anti-HBe) was studied retrospectively in 197 Finnish voluntary blood donors, who had been found positive for HBsAg by routine screening in 1970 or 1971. Two samples were available from each donor: the first was taken in 1970 or 1971 and the second in 1978; the average interval between the specimens was 7.6 years. All except one (99.5%) of the donors remained HGsAg carriers during the whole study period. HBeAg was detected initially in 3 (2%) cases, all of whom lost HBeAg after the follow-up, and 2 converted to anti-HBe-positive. Anti-HBe was found in the first samples of 158 (80%) HGsAg carriers, 154 (97%) of whom were still positive for anti-HBe in the second samples. These results suggest that the HBsAg carrier stage is stable as for the presence of HBsAg and anti-HBe.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001782:Blood Donors; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens