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Radioimmunoassay in the detection of the hepatitis B e antigen/antibody system in asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen

Correlation with serum dane particle associated DNA polymerase activity

Ein Radioimmunassay zum Nachweis des Hepatitis-B-e-Antigen/Antikörper-Systems bei asymptomatischen Trägern von Hepatitis-B-Oberflächen-Antigen

Korrelation mit der Dane-Partikel-assoziierten DNS-Polymerase-Aktivität

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Summary

A radioimmunoassay for hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody to e (anti-HBe) was developed and sera of 71 asymptomatic chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), in 44 of whom liver biopsy was obtained, were tested. In addition, testing for Dane particle associated DNA polymerase activity was performed in all sera. HBeAg was detected in 14 subjects (19.7%) and anti-HBe in 46 (64.8%). The highest proportion of HBeAg positivity (40%) was found among carriers with histological evidence of chronic hepatitis, whereas anti-HBe was present in 80% of carriers with normal liver histology, in 58% of carriers with nonspecific reactive hepatitis and in 60% of carriers with chronic liver lesions. DNA polymerase activity was present in 92.8% of sera positive for HBeAg, in 13% of sera positive for anti-HBe, and in 9% of sera negative for both markers. Our results demonstrate that not all HBsAg carriers reactive to HBeAg show evidence of chronic hepatitis nor, conversely, that anti-HBe is invariably associated with the healthy carrier state of HBsAg. Finally, circulating Dane particles, as revealed by the presence of serum specific DNA polymerase activity, may also be present in anti-HBe positive sera other than those of some HBsAg carriers lacking both HBeAg and anti-HBe.

Zusammenfassung

Ein Radioimmunoassay für das Hepatitis „e“ Antigen (HBeAg) wurde entwickelt und Seren von 71 asymptomatischen Trägern von Hepatitis-B-Oberflächen-Antigen (HBsAg) wurden untersucht; bei 44 von ihnen wurden Leberbiopsien entnommen. Zusätzlich wurden bei allen Seren der Test auf Dane-Partikel-assoziierte DNS-Polymerase-Aktivität durchgeführt. HBeAg wurde bei 14 Patienten (19,7%) entdeckt, anti-HBe bei 46 (64,8%). Der größte Anteil HBeAg-positiver Seren (40%) fand sich bei Trägern mit den histologischen Zeichen der chronischen Hepatitis, während anti-HBe bei 80% der Träger mit normaler Leberhistologie vorhanden war, bei 58% der Träger mit unspezifischer reaktiver Hepatitis und bei 60% der Träger mit chronischem Leberschaden. Die DNS-Polymerase-Aktivität war bei 92,8% der HBeAg-positiven Seren vorhanden, bei 13% der anti-HBe-positiven und bei 9% der bezüglich beider Marker negativen Seren. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, daß nicht alle HBsAg-Träger, die HBeAg-reaktiv sind, Zeichen einer chronischen Hepatitis aufweisen und daß umgekehrt auch nicht anti-HBe ausnahmslos mit dem gesunden Träger-Status von HBsAg assoziiert ist. Schließlich können, wie durch die Anwesenheit von spezifischer Serum-DNS-Polymerase-Aktivität gezeigt wurde, zirkulierende Dane-Partikel auch in anderen anti-HBe-positiven Seren vorhanden sein als in denjenigen einiger HBsAg-Carrier, bei denen sowohl HBeAg als auch anti-HBe fehlen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clinica delle Malattie Infettive, Università di Bari, Policlinico, 70124, Bari, Italy

    G. Pastore, P. Dentico, G. Angarano & O. Schiraldi

  2. Istituto di Virologia, Università di Milano, Via Pascal 38, 20133, Milano, Italy

    A. R. Zanetti & P. Ferroni

Authors
  1. G. Pastore
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  2. P. Dentico
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  3. G. Angarano
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  4. O. Schiraldi
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  5. A. R. Zanetti
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  6. P. Ferroni
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Pastore, G., Dentico, P., Angarano, G. et al. Radioimmunoassay in the detection of the hepatitis B e antigen/antibody system in asymptomatic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen. Infection 7, 279–282 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642149

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01642149

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