Premium
Detection of hepatitis B viral DNA by polymerase chain reaction in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen
Author(s) -
Shih LingNa,
Sheu JinChuan,
Wang JinTown,
Huang GuanTarn,
Chen JueiSuei,
Sung JueiLow,
Wang TehHong,
Chen DingShinn
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890300302
Subject(s) - hbeag , virology , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis b virus dna polymerase , polymerase chain reaction , hepatitis b , cirrhosis , hepatitis , antigen , virus , medicine , immunology , biology , gastroenterology , gene , biochemistry
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was assayed using the polymerase chain reaction in serum samples of 116 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, including 30 positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 86 negative for HBeAg. In the HBeAg‐positive group, all were positive for HBV DNA. In the HBeAg‐negative group, 80.2% were positive for HBV DNA (80.0% in the healthy carrier group, 90.0% in the chronic active liver disease group, and 69.2% in patients with cirrhosis). This study indicated that every HBeAg‐positive carrier as well as the majority of HBeAg‐negative carriers were infectious and, in the latter group, that viral replication is most active in patients with chronic active liver disease.