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Chronic viral hepatitis B in childhood

II. Immunological studies in serum and liver tissue and family studies

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Abstract

The results of immunological studies in serum and liver tissue from 26 patients with chronic HBsAg-positive hepatitis (15 CPH, 9 CAH, 2 MinH) are presented.

Determination of serum immunoglobulins showed no significant differences between the three categories of HBsAg-positive CH. AGF, ANA and AMA were not demonstrable in our patients.

HBsAg and anti-HBc were demonstrated in all patients, HBeAg in 16, anti-HBe in 6 patients. 2 children had anti-HBs antibodies.

Elevated DNA polymerase activity was found in 8 of 12 HBeAg-seropositive and 0 of 9 HBeAg-sero-negative patients.

HBcAg was present in liver tissue from 9 of 10 HBeAg-seropositive and 1 of 9 HBeAg-seronegative children. In some cases the classification of viral antigen expression patterns according to the studies of Bianchi and Gudat did not correspond to the histological diagnosis and the presence of serum HBeAg.

Studies in 51 family members of 23 children showed a high incidence of HBsAg carriers among the siblings and frequent evidence of anti-HBs in the mothers. Altogether, contact with HBV was demonstrated in 28 of the relatives studied.

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Abbreviations

HBV:

hepatitis B virus

CH:

chronic hepatitis

CPH:

chronic persistent hepatitis

CAH:

chronic aggressive hepatitis

MinH:

minimal hepatitis

HBsAg:

hepatitis B surface antigen

HBcAg:

hepatitis B core antigen

HBeAg:

hepatitis B “e” antigen

anti-HBs:

antibody to HBsAg

anti-HBc:

antibody to HBcAg

anti-HBe:

antibody to HBeAg

AGF:

anti-gamma-globulin factors

ANA:

antinuclear antibodies

AMA:

antimitochondrial antibodies

SMA:

smooth muscle antibodies

LMA:

liver membrane antibodies

DNA:

desoxyribonucleic acid

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universitäts-Kinderklinik Bonn, Adenauerallee 119, D-5300, Bonn 1, Germany

    Ch. Bosch, M. Becker & H. W. Rotthauwe

  2. Iminunologischer Arbeitsbereich der Abteilung Innere Medizin des Klinikums Charlottenburg der Freien Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    W. Arnold & G. Hess

Authors
  1. Ch. Bosch
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  2. M. Becker
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  3. H. W. Rotthauwe
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  4. W. Arnold
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  5. G. Hess
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Bosch, C., Becker, M., Rotthauwe, H.W. et al. Chronic viral hepatitis B in childhood. Eur J Pediatr 136, 57–62 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00441712

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