ANTI-HBE TITER IN PATIENTS INFECTED WITH WILD-TYPE AND E-MINUS VARIANT OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS

Serum samples from 77 HBsAg- and anti-HBe-positive chronic hepatitis B patients were studied for a G to A point mutation at the 1896 nucleot ide of the precore region by polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleo tide hybridization. Patients were grouped as: A, infected only by the wild-type virus; B, infected only by e-minus variant; C, coinfected by the wild-type and e-minus variant; and D, no precore/core gene of hep atitis B virus detected. All samples were assayed for the titre of ant i-HBe by ELISA and compared as grouped. A significantly higher titre w as found in the coinfected group C compared to groups A (p < 0.01) and D (p < 0.05). Results indicate that a high titre of anti-HBe is requi red as immune selective pressure for E-minus variant to overtake the w ild-type virus.