1974 Volume 15 Issue 12 Pages 743-749
A study on the incidence of HB antigen and antibody was carried out in 15 families clustered with HB antigen positive chronic liver diseases. Higher incidence of HB antibody, which were expected from their contagious situation in their family was not found in the healthy and HB antigen negative children. It was noteworthy that the lowest incidence was encountered among the children with HB antigen positive mother. Low incidence of HB antibody among the siblings was observed in families in which their parents were negative in HB antigen and antibodys. HL-A typing study suggested some genetically determined aspects of the host against HB antigen. It was concluded that HB antigen infection in the state of immunological tolerance (intrauterus) and predisposition of the host were basically important for persistence of HB antigen in the family.
