DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-B VIRAL-DNA BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATITIS-B SURFACE-ANTIGEN

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was assayed using the polymerase chain reaction in serum samples of 116 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, including 30 positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and 86 negative for HBeAg. In the HBeAg‐positive group, all were positive for HBV DNA. In the HBeAg‐negative group, 80.2% were positive for HBV DNA (80.0% in the healthy carrier group, 90.0% in the chronic active liver disease group, and 69.2% in patients with cirrhosis). This study indicated that every HBeAg‐positive carrier as well as the majority of HBeAg‐negative carriers were infectious and, in the latter group, that viral replication is most active in patients with chronic active liver disease. Copyright © 1990 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Company