CLINICAL, SEROLOGICAL AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS OF 471 HEPATITIS-B VIRUS CARRIERS

A total of 471 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) blood donors identified as hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers were examined a few months after bloo d donation. When compared to the general population of IDF blood donor s the HBV carriers were older, belonged to certain ethnic groups and w ere predominantly males. Physical examination revealed minimal finding s: 1 (0.3%) had splenomegaly and 5 (1.6%) had hepatomegaly. Fifty-two individuals (11.1%) had elevated liver enzymes. E antigen was present in 3.2% of HBV carriers, 94% had anti-e antibodies and 1.9% had anti-d elta antibodies. Of 258 carriers tested for HBV DNA, 29 (11.2%) were p ositive. Abnormal liver enzymes were significantly associated with the presence of e antigen as well as with the presence of HBV DNA.