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Quantitative correlation between the dane particle-associated DNA polymerase and the hepatitis B e antigen

Quantitative Korrelation zwischen der Dane Partikel-assoziierten DNS-Polymerase und dem Hepatitis B e Antigen

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Summary

In order to evaluate the potential infectivity of blood of hepatitis B patients, the Dane particle associated DNA polymerase was determined, which is a reliable marker for the presence of complete viral particles. Enzyme activities were compared with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) titers determined by radioimmunoassay. Detectable DNA polymerase activity was only present in HBeAg positive blood, preferentially in samples with high antigen titers (1 : 1000 and above). These samples therefore have to be considered as highly infectious. However, blood with low HBeAg levels and free of detectable polymerase activity can still be infectious, since the polymerase reaction is rather insensitive compared to the radioimmunological HBeAg determination.

Zusammenfassung

Zur Beurteilung der möglichen Infektiosität von Blut von an Hepatitis B erkrankten Patienten wurde die Dane Partikel-assoziierte DNS-Polymerase bestimmt. Diese ist ein zuverlässiger Marker für die Anwesenheit kompletter Viruspartikel. Die Enzymaktivitäten wurden mit den im Radioimmunassay bestimmten Hepatitis B e Antigen (HBeAg)-Titern verglichen. Meßbare DNS-Polymeraseaktivität war nur in HBeAg-positivem Blut vorhanden, vorzugsweise in Proben mit hohen Antigentitern (1 : 1000 und darüber). Aus diesem Grund müssen solche Proben als höchst infektiös angesehen werden. Jedoch kann Blut mit niedrigen HBeAg-Spiegeln und ohne nachweisbare DNS-Polymerase trotzdem infektiös sein, da die Polymerasereaktion relativ unempfindlich ist, verglichen mit der radioimmunologischen HBeAg-Bestimmung.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. III. und II. Medizinische Klinik im Klinikum Großhadern, Marchioninistraße 15, D-8000, Munich 70, West Germany

    W. Siegert,  J. Grunst &  W. Wilmanns

  2. Max von Pettenkofer Institut für Hygiene und medizinische Mikrobiologie, Pettenkoferstraße 9a, D-8000, Munich 2, West Germany

    G. G. Frösner &  F. Deinhardt

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  1. W. Siegert
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  2. J. Grunst
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  3. W. Wilmanns
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  4. G. G. Frösner
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  5. F. Deinhardt
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Siegert, W., Grunst, J., Wilmanns, W. et al. Quantitative correlation between the dane particle-associated DNA polymerase and the hepatitis B e antigen. Infection 7, 220–222 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01648929

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01648929

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