English Summary
THE TITRE OF r-PHSA AND HBeAg
IN HEALTHY CARRIERS AND IN
PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC LIVER
DISEASES
W. Soemarto
Hepato-Gastroenterology Subdivision,
Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Faculty of
Medicine, Airlangga University, Surabaya.
Sera of 30 'healthy' carriers and
45 patients with chronic liver
diseases were examined to
detect the presence and effect
of HBeAg and anti-HBe on r-PHSA
titre. Patients with chronic liver
diseases were further categorized
into three different groups:
chronic hepatitis (23 people),
cirrhosis (14 people) and carci-
noma (8 people).
The average r-PHSA titre in the
'healthy' carriers with a positive
HBsAg was 5.86a while in those
carriers with a positive HBeAg, the
titre was only 0.85a. The differ-ence
between those two aver-ages
was significant (p < 0,01). As the r-
PHSA titre determination has a
high sensitivity and specificity, it
follows that determination of r-
PHSAtitre can replace the more
expensive and complicated
HBeAg test.
The average r-PHSA titre in
patients in the group of chronic
liver diseases with a positive
HBeAg was also found to be
higher than in those in the same
group with a positive anti HBe.
However, the difference was not
significant (p > 0,05).
If the titre of r-PHSA with a
dilution factor of 2
4.5
is used as
criteria, then the determination of
r-PHSA titre, instead of the HBeAg
test is applicable for 'healthy'
carriers, but not in those with
chronic liver diseases.
Cermin Dunia Kedokt. 1991; 68:15-8
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HEPATITIS B AMONG FAMILIES
Sujono Hadl
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of
Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine,
PadJadjaran University/Hasan Sadikin
General Hospital, Bandung, Indonesia.
Athree-year prospective study
on relatives of Hepatitis B patients
was carried out during 1987-1989.
Ninety-five cases with positive
HBsAg were detected, consisting
of 37 females and 58 males. At
the time of diagnosis, the young-
est was 28-year-old while the
eldest was 67 years, with a mean
of 42,3 years. HBeAg was also
determined, resulting in 65 nega-
tive and 30 positive cases.
Transmission of infection to their
children was 37,6% by women
with positive HBsAg and negative
HBeAg, while men with the same
conditions infected 35,7% of their
children. The transmission rate of
HVB increased to 59A%and 47,5%
for female and male patients
respectively, if the HBeAg was
also positive. The rate was further
increased to 86,6% if both parents
showed a positive HBsAg test,
although the HBeAg was nega-
tive. An additional positive HBeAg
of one of the parents resulted in a
HBV transmission rate of 100%.
It was concluded that trans-
mission of HVB among close rela-
tives can occur vertically as well
as horizontally, either maternal or
paternal. Therefore, close rela-
tives with negative serological
markers should be immunized; the
earlier the better, to achieve
maximal efficacy.
Cermin Dunia Kedokt. 1991; 68:8-12
brw/olh
Cermin Dunia Kedokteran No. 68, 1991
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