[Antibodies against hepatitis B (surface) antigen in patients with hepatitis and other groups of epidemiologic interest (author's transl)]

Abstract

Sera of patients with hepatitis A and B and of patients in a hemodialysis unit as well as sera of drug addicts were examined for the presence of antibodies against hepatitis B (surface) antigen (HBsAg) employing the Ausab test - a new radioimmunoassay. In 79.3% of the hepatitis B patients the occurrence of antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBsAg) was noted after the HBsAg had disappeared. In hepatitis A patients anti-HBsAg could be detected in 15.5% (adults) and in 4.6% (children) respectively. These antibodies persisted over an observation period up to 15 months and were not connected with the apparent illness at the time of the examination. These results are rather an indication of the frequency of antibodies against HBsAg in the normal population. In two patients with hepatitis A a delayed antibody reaction similar to that seen in hepatitis B patients was observed though HBsAg could not be detected (Ausria 125 test). It is assumed that these patients suffered from hepatitis B which on the basis of the negative HBsAg status was diagnosed as hepatitis A. According to that observation not all cases of HBsAg negative hepatitis are necessarily of type A but occasionally of type B not detectable by means of HBsAg assay at that time. Drug addicts without hepatitis at the time of investigation showed 50.8% anti-HBsAg, in 24.3% HBsAg was detected by means of the Ausria 125 test. In 19 drug addicts with positive antigen or antibody status a history of hepatitis was established. Patients of the hemodialysis unit were found to be HBsAg carriers in 9.2% and anti-HBsAg carriers in 53.5%. The data obtained from drug addicts and dialysis patients point to a high risk of infection in both groups and to a frequent contact with HBsAg (booster) in dialysis units. The combined application of sensitive tests for the detection of antigen and antibodies (radioimmunoassays) with regard to epidemiological and anamnestic studies is recomended.