Type B hepatitis: the infectivity of blood positive for e antigen and DNA polymerase after accidental needlestick exposure.

Abstract

To determine the relation between the presence of donor DNA polymerase and e antigen, and recipient hepatitis, we tested, under code, serums from a controlled trial of hepatitis B immune globulin used to treat individuals accidentally inoculated with HBs Ag-positive blood. All recipients lacked antibody to HBs Ag. In 29 of 31 donors, both polymerase and e were in perfect agreement; both demonstrated a highly significant correlation with recipient hepatitis (P less than 0.001). DNA polymerase/e-negative blood did not cause hepatitis. Blood containing polymerase or e antigen did not cause hepatitis in six of 31 and four of 18 recipients, respectively. Hepatitis did not correlate with transaminase or duration of antigenemia in the donor. Polymerase and e appear to be indicators of the relative infectivity of HBs Ag-positive serum, particularly after small-volume exposure. They may be important determinants in assessing infectivity of chronic carriers of HBs Ag and in evaluating efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccines.

• Authors: H J Alter, L B Seeff, P M Kaplan, V J McAuliffe, E C Wright, J L Gerin, R H Purcell, P V Holland, H J Zimmerman
• Journal: The New England journal of medicine (N Engl J Med) Vol. 295 Issue 17 Pg. 909-13 (Oct 21 1976) ISSN: 0028-4793 [Print] United States
• PMID: 967200 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hepatitis B Antigens

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Blood Donors
• Carrier State
• Chronic Disease
• Hepatitis B (blood, immunology, transmission)
• Hepatitis B Antigens (analysis)
• Humans
• Time Factors