title: [Viral hepatitis B as a factor in the etiology of cataracts in adults and children].
abstract: Vacuoles, aqueous fissures, crumb-like opacities, color iridescence, and thickening under the posterior capsule in the lens were found in 86% of 45 patients with chronic active hepatitis B, mean age 33 +/- 2.5 years. Seven percent of patients developed posterior capsule cataracts. examinations of 42 patients with cirrhosis of the liver caused by hepatitis B virus (mean age 39 +/- 2 years) revealed changes in the lens in 100% and mature cataracts in 36% of the eyes. In 2 of the 4 healthy HBsAg carriers aged 31 to 35 initial changes in the lens and accumulation of antilenticular antibodies in the lacrimal fluid and serum. A reliable difference by all the tested parameters between the examinees and controls (HBsAg-negative age-matched blood donors, n = 20) confirms a relationship between hepatitis B infection and lenticular abnormalities in subjects of a productive age. Markers of hepatitis B virus (HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBe, anti-HBc) were found in the lenticular mass and blood sera of 11 out of 14 children aged 1.5 to 4 operated on for congenital nonhereditary cataracts; in 4 of them viral replication still continued. HBV markers of chronic viral carriership or markers of potential contagiousness were found in the sera of their mothers (in 6 and 5 sera, respectively), this indicating a possible intrauterine infection of children. The findings evidence a possible etiological role of hepatitis B virus infection in the formation of congenital and early acquired cataracts.
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Kushnir
authors.forename: O S
authors.initials: OS
authors.lastname: Slepova
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Zaĭtseva
authors.forename: Z D
authors.initials: ZD
authors.lastname: Titarenko
authors.forename: V A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Dumbrava
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Vovk
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis; D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
vernacular_title: Virusnyĭ gepatit B kak faktor formirovaniia katarakt u vzroslykh i deteĭ.