Abstract
Between June 1970 and July 1976, all patients entering the Dialysis and Transplantation Program were tested serially for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsag). 36 patients became HBsag positive (+). e antigen (e) testing was performed by rheophoresis on sera at the time of : 1) initial HBsag + (only 29 sera available); 2) highest HBsag titre; 3) highest transaminase enzyme abnormalities; 4) the latest HBsag + sera. Of 36 patients, 28 (75%) had at least one e+ serum. e+ sera were found in 41% of patients at initial HBsag titre; in 68% coincident with the highest HBsag titre; in 62% coincident with the highest transaminase levels; and in 72% at their most recent determination. Of 12 patients identified as e+ at initial HBsag testing, 8 remained e+ and 2 were intermittently e+. Of 17, initially e negative (-), 10 became consistently e+, 4 remained e- and 3 became intermittently e+. 31 patients were persistently HBsag + for 4 to 51 months; 28 were e+ at least once. None of the 5 patients transiently HBsag + were e+ (P<0.0001). Mean transaminase values at the time of each e determination were not significantly different when e+ and e- serums were compared. The data indicate that persistence of HBsag correlates with the presence of e in children undergoing dialysis and transplantation; hepatic enzyme abnormalities are not similarly correlated. Conversion to e+ often occurs after e- and may account for persistent transmissability of HBsag noted in these patients.
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Ettenger, R., Mosley, J., Wright, H. et al. ANTIGEN IN CHILDREN UNDERGOING DIALYSIS AND TRANS-PLANTATION: A SERIAL STUDY. Pediatr Res 11, 549 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-01078
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-01078
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