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Dane particle DNA polymerase and HBeAg: Impact on clinical, laboratory, and histologic findings in hepatitis B‐associated chronic liver disease
Author(s) -
Andres Ljudevit L.,
Sawhney Vinod K.,
Scullard George H.,
Smith Joseph L.,
Merigan Thomas C.,
Robinson William S.,
Gregory Peter B.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840010604
Subject(s) - hbeag , medicine , dna polymerase , hbsag , hypoalbuminemia , cirrhosis , liver disease , polymerase chain reaction , polymerase , virology , immunology , gastroenterology , hepatitis b virus , biology , virus , dna , gene , genetics
Fifty patients with chronic HBs antigenemia and Dane particle‐associated DNA polymerase and HBeAg in their serum were contrasted to 46 HBsAg positive patients who had neither serum DNA polymerase or HBeAg. The time from acute onset and the duration of antigenemia were longer in patients who were DNA polymerase and HBeAg negative than in those who had both serum markers. Cirrhosis, hypoalbuminemia, and sequelae of chronic liver disease were more common in DNA polymerase, HBeAg negative patients than in those who were positive. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that active viral replication is an early, albeit prolonged stage in the development of advanced HBsAg‐associated liver disease.