QUANTITATIVE DETECTION OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-DNA IN SERA FROM PATIENTSWITH ACUTE HEPATITIS-B

Two hundred forty-four serial serum samples from 30 adults hospitalize d with benign (nonfulminant) acute hepatitis B were tested for the pre sence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA by a quantitative solution hybrid ization assay using a I-125-labeled DNA probe complementary to HBV-DNA sequences. Acute hepatitis B was self-limiting in 28 and progressed t o chronicity in the remaining two patients. Of the 28 patients with se lf-limiting hepatitis, 21 (75%) were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) pos itive, 26 (93%) were HBV-DNA positive, and one patient (3.6%) was nega tive for both markers on admission to the hospital. HBV-DNA cleared af ter HBeAg clearance in 20 (71.4%), before HBeAg clearance in five (17. 9%) and simultaneously with the loss of HBeAg in the remaining two (7. 1%) of the 27 initially HBV-DNA- and/or HBeAg-positive patients. Moreo ver, HBV-DNA remained detectable in serum for 13.3 +/- 6.6 (range: 4-2 2) days after the appearance of anti-HBe in 71.4% of these patients. I n contrast, HBV-DNA and HBeAg remained persistently positive in the tw o patients who developed chronic HBV infection. These data show that: (1) viremia frequently persists after disappearance of HBeAg and (2) a ppearance of anti-HBe does not indicate the cessation of HBV replicati on in adults with acute self-limiting hepatitis B.