In order to examine the clinical features of severe acute exacerbation in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, 297 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers were followed for 35 +/- 22 months (mean +/- S.D.) in Tohoku University Hospital from 1976 to 1987. Of these, 10 experienced severe acute exacerbation with hepatic decompensation. All of these patients had intense subjective sympto...

Background & Aims: Hepatitis B virus is one of the causes of acute and chronic hepatitis. Due to multiple hospitalization and blood transfusion, thalassaemic patients are at higher risk of this infection. Duration of the immunity after vaccination in this high-risk group and the need for booster vaccination is uncertain. The aim of this study was to find antibody titration and immunity to Hepat...

BACKGROUND Perinatal and horizontal are the common modes of transmission of hepatitis-B virus in children. CASE CHARACTERISTICS Two mother-child pairs with children having received multiple blood transfusions in past. OBSERVATION Both the mothers developed acute hepatitis-B infection whereas children were demonstrated to be having chronic infection with hepatitis-B. OUTCOME One mother cle...

Chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus has been linked epidemiologically to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma for more than 30 years. Although the mechanisms by which chronic hepatitis B viral infection results in hepatocellular carcinoma are unclear, there is good evidence that the virus itself exerts a direct hepatocarcinogenic effect, and this has implications for prevention....

background: hepatitis b virus (hbv) vaccination is a well-known, safe and effective way for protection against hbv infection; however, non-responders remain susceptible to infection with hbv. this is so important in patients with any kind of chronic liver disease, especially chronic hepatitis c virus (hcv) patients in whom acute hbv infection may lead to decompensation of liver disease. some of...

BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the infections with a highest prevalence in Taiwan. The most important marker is hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Using the new generation of HBsAg quantitative assay, HBsAg level may have good correlation with viral activity during different phases of chronic hepatitis B virus infection. This study was conducted to compare two assays o...

Although occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections in individuals without detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) may occur and have been reported to be common in patients with chronic hepatitis C, the clinical relevance remains controversial. We searched for serum HBV DNA in 210 HBsAg-negative patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease (110 patients with chronic hepatit...