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Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Fulminant Hepatitis B
- KEVIN M. DE COCK, M.D., M.R.C.P., D.T.M.&H.;
- SUGANTHA GOVINDARAJAN, M.D.;
- BOONTAR VALINLUCK, B.S.; and
- ALLAN G. REDEKER, M.D.
Excerpt
Patients with fulminant hepatitis B have hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) detected for shorter periods than do patients with nonfulminant infections, and they show early and enhanced production of antibodies to HBsAg, HBeAg, and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) (1-3). These observations have been interpreted as evidence that fulminant hepatitis results from the host's immunologic response to the infection rather than from hepatitis B virus replication.
Modern techniques for detecting hepatitis B virus DNA in serum provide the most sensitive method available for showing active viral replication (4-6). We examined hepatitis B virus DNA
This 100-word excerpt has been provided in the absence of an abstract.
Article and Author Information
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▸Correspondence should be addressed to Kevin M. De Cock, MD.; Special Pathogens Branch, Division of Viral Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, 1600 Clifton Road, N.E.; Atlanta, GA 30333. Reprints are not available.
