Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Die Ausbreitung von Hepatitis-B-Infektionen in Familien HBsAg-positiver Träger

Spread of hepatitis B virus infection among family contacts of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers

  • Originalien
  • Published:
Klinische Wochenschrift Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Family members of 34 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers were tested for different hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers. Among 67 family members tested 24 (36%) presented signs of a past or ongoing HBV-infection. Spread of HBV-infection was particularly high in those families in which the HBsAg carrier was positive for HBeAg and Dane particle-associated DNA polymerase activity. Non-parenteral “horizontal” transmission of HBV among spouses and brothers and sisters and probably parenteral vertical transmission of HBV from carrier mothers to their infants occurred in approximately the same frequency. Fathers transmitted HBV unfrequently to their offsprings. The results show that the risk to acquire a HBV-infection from an asymptomatic HBsAg carrier is closely linked to the serological findings in the HBe/anti-HBe-system of the index HBsAg carrier and not to the family relationship to the HBsAg carrier.

Zusammenfassung

Von 34 asymptomatischen HBsAg-Trägern wurden die Familienangehörigen auf das Vorkommen verschiedener Hepatitis-B-Virus (HBV)-Marker untersucht. Bei 24 der 67 untersuchten Familienmitglieder (36%) ließen sich Zeichen einer stattgehabten oder noch bestehenden HBV-Infektion nachweisen. Die Ausbreitung der HBV-Infektion war in den Familien besonders hoch, in denen der HBsAg-Träger zugleich HBeAg und DNA-Polymerase-Aktivität im Serum aufwies. Nichtparenterale „horizontale“ Infektionsraten bei Ehepartnern und bei Geschwistern lagen in etwa dem gleichen Größenbereich wie bei der mutmaßlichen vertikalen Infektionsausbreitung zwischen Müttern und Kindern. Auffallend niedrige Infektionsraten bestanden zwischen Vätern und Kindern. Nach den vorliegenden Untersuchungen wird das Risiko, eine HBV-Infektion von einem asymptomatischen HBsAg-Träger zu erwerben, weniger vom Grad der verwandtschaftlichen Beziehung als vielmehr von den serologischen Befunden im HBeAg/anti-HBe-System bestimmt.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Literatur

  1. Alter, H.J., Seeff, L.B., Kaplan, P.M., McAuliffe, V.J., Wright, E.C., Gerin, J.L., Purcell, R.H., Holland, P.V., Zimmermann, H.J.: Type B hepatitis: The infectivity of blood positive for e-antigen and DNA polymerase after accidental needlestick exposure. N. Engl. J. Med.295, 909–913 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Arnold, W., Meyer zum Büschenfelde, K.H., Hess, G., Knolle, J.: The diagnostic significance of intrahepatocellular hepatitis-B-surface-antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis-B-core-antigen (HBcAg) and IgG for the classification of inflammatory liver diseases. Klin. Wochenschr.53, 1069–1074 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Arnold, W., Hess, G., Purcell, R.H., Kaplan, P.M., Gerin, J.L., Meyer zum Büschenfelde, K.H.: Anti-HBc, HBeAg and DNA polymerase activity in healthy HBsAg carriers and patients with inflammatory liver diseases. Klin. Wochenschr.56, 297–303 (1978)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Baumann, W., Emmrich, P., Arndt-Hanser, A., Pyka, R.: Radioimmunologischer HBsAg-Nachweis im Liquor cerebrospinalis. Immunität und Infektion4, 29–32 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Berquist, K.R., Maynard, J.E., Murphy, B.L.: Infectivity of serum containing HBsAg and antibody to e-antigen. Lancet1, 1026–1027 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Blainley, J.D., Earle, A., Flewett, T.H., Williams, L.K.L.: Is the urine infective in serum hepatitis? Lancet1, 797 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Brodersen, M., Stegmann, S., Klein, K.H., Trülzsch, D., Reusch, P.: Salivary HBAg detected by radioimmunoassay. Lancet1, 675–676 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Dane, D.S., Cameron, C.H., Briggs, M.: Virus-like particles in serum of patients with Australia-antigen associated hepatitis. Lancet1, 695–698 (1970)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Feinmann, S.V., Krassnitski, O., Sinclair, J.C., Wrobel, D.M., Berris, B.: Hepatitis B surface antigen in saliva of HBsAg carriers. J. Lab. Clin. Med.85, 1042–1048 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Fulford, K.W.M., Dane, D.S., Catterall, R.D., Woof, R., Denning, J.V.: Australia antigen and antibody among patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases. Lancet1, 1470–1473 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Greenberg, H.B., Pollard, R.B., Lutwick, L.I., Gregory, P.B., Robinson, W.S., Mergan, T.C.: Effect of human leucocyte interferon on hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic active hepatitis. N. Engl. J. Med.295, 517–524 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grob, P.J., Jemelka, H.: Faecal S.H. (Australia) antigen in acute hepatitis. Lancet1, 206–208 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Heathcote, J., Cameron, C.H., Dane, D.S.: Hepatitis-B antigen in saliva and semen. Lancet1, 71–73 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hess, G., Nielsen, J.O., Arnold, W., Meyer zum Büschenfelde, K.H.: e-antigen-antibody-system and intrahepatocellular HBcAg and HBsAg in HBsAg positive patients with inflammatory liver diseases and healthy HBsAg-carriers. Scand. J. Gastroenterol.12, 325–330 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Hess, G., Arnold, W., Shih, J.W.K., Kaplan, P.M., Purcell, R.H., Gerin, J.L., Meyer zum Büschenfelde, K.H.: Expression of hepatitis B virus-specific markers in asymptomatic hepatitis B surface antigen carriers. Infect. Immunol.17, 550–554 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jeffries, D.J., James, W.H., Jefferiss, F.J.G., MacLeod, K.G., Willcox, R.R.: Australia (hepatitis-associated) antigen in patients attending a verereal disease clinic. Brit. Med. J.2, 455–456 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kaboth, U., Mietzsch, G.: Australia (SH)-Antigen-Nachweis in Peritonealdialysaten. Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr.96, 707–708 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kaplan, P.M., Greenman, R.L., Gerin, J.L., Purcell, R.H., Robinson, W.S.: DNA polymerase associated with human hepatitis B antigen. J. Virol.12, 995–1005 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Koff, R.S., Slavin, M.M., Connelly, L.J.D.: The contagiousness of acute hepatitis B: Secondary attack rates in household contacts. Gastroenterology69, A-38/838 (1975)

  20. Knolle, J., Born, M., Hess, G., Klinge, O., Arnold, W., Bitz, H., Meyer zum Büschenfelde, K.H.: Die Charakterisierung des klinisch gesunden Hepatitis-B-Antigen (HBsAg)-Trägers. Klin. Wochenschr.54, 567–578 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  21. Linnemann, C.C., Goldberg, S.: HBsAg in breast milk. Lancet2, 155 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Magnius, L.O., Espmark, J.A.: New specificities in australia antigen positive sera distinct from the Le Bouvier determinants. J. Immunol.109, 1017–1021 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Mosley, J.W.: The epidemiology of viral hepatitis: an overwiev. Amer. J. Med. Sci.270, 253 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nordenfelt, E., Kjellen, L.: Dane particles, DNA polymerase, and e-antigen in two different categories of hepatitis B antigen carriers. Intervirol.5, 225–232 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Nordenfelt, E., Andren-Sandberg, M.: Dane particle-associated DNA polymerase and e-antigen: relation to chronic hepatitis among carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. J. Infect. Dis.134, 85–89 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ogra, P.L.: Immunologic aspects of hepatitis-associated antigen and antibody in human body fluids. J. Immunol.110, 1197–1205 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Okada, K., Kamiyama, I., Inomata, M., Imai, M., Miyakawa, Y., Mayumi, M.: e Antigen and anti-e in the serum of asymptomatic carrier mothers as indicators of positive and negative transmission of hepatitis B virus to their infants. N. Engl. J. Med.294, 746–749 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Okada, K., Yamada, T., Miyakawa, Y., Mayumi, M.: Hepatitis B surface antigen in the serum of infants after delivery from asymptomatic carrier mothers. J. Pediat.87, 360–363 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Papaevangelou, G., Trichopoulos, D., Kremastinou, T., Papoutsakis, G.: Prevalence of hepatitis B antigen and antibody in prostitutes. Br. Med. J.2, 256–258 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Robinson, W.S., Greenman, R.L.: DNA polymerase in the core of the human hepatitis B virus candidate. J. Virol.13, 1231–1236 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Schweitzer, I.L., Edwards, V.M., Brezina, M.: e-antigen in HBsAg-carrier mothers. Brit. Med. J.293, 940 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Serpean, D., Mannoni, P., Dhuneaux, D., Berthelot, P.: Hepatitis-associated antigen in human bile. Lancet2, 1266 (1971)

    Google Scholar 

  33. Skinhøj, P., Cohn, J., Bradburne, A.F.: Transmission of hepatitis type B from healthy HBsAg-positive mothers. Brit. Med. J.1, 10–11 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  34. Szmuness, W., Much, M.I., Prince, A.M., Hoofnagle, J.H., Cherubin, C.E., Harley, E.J., Block, G.H.: On the role of sexual behavior in the spread of hepatitis B infection. Ann. Int. Med.83, 489–495 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Szmuness, W., Prince, A.M., Hirsch, R.L., Brotman, B.: Familial clustering of hepatitis B infektion. N Engl. J. Med.289, 1162–1166 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  36. Szmuness, W.: Recent advances in the study of the epidemiology of hepatitis B. Am. J. Pathol.81, 629–650 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Telatar, T.H., Kayhan, B., Kes, S., Karacadag, S.: HBsAg in sweat. Lancet2, 461 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  38. Tripatzis, J.: Australia antigen in urine and feces. Am. J. Dis. Child123, 461 (1972)

    Google Scholar 

  39. Villarejos, V.M., Visona, K.A., Gutierrez, A., Rodriguez, A.: Role of saliva, urine and feces in the transmission of type B hepatitis. N. Engl. J. Med.291, 1375–1378 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. II. Med. Klinik u. Poliklinik der Universität Mainz, Germany

    H. H. Dormeyer, M. Born, H. Schönborn & B. Zöller

  2. Abteilung für Innere Medizin und Poliklinik der Freien Universität Berlin, Klinikum Charlottenburg, Germany

    G. Hess & W. Arnold

  3. Innere Abteilung der Ev. Luth. Diakonissenanstalt Flensburg, Germany

    J. Knolle

Authors
  1. H. H. Dormeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. Hess
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Born
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Schönborn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. W. Arnold
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Knolle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. B. Zöller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Dormeyer, H.H., Hess, G., Born, M. et al. Die Ausbreitung von Hepatitis-B-Infektionen in Familien HBsAg-positiver Träger. Klin Wochenschr 57, 1287–1294 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01492984

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01492984

Key words

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation