Biochemical and immunological study of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers

Abstract

We studied the biochemical and immunological aspects of 152 asymptomatic HBsAg carriers. By radioimmunoassay HBeAg was detected in 31 cases (20.4%), HBeAb in 107 cases (70.4%) and neither HBeAg nor HBeAb in 14 cases (9.2%). The time of occurrence of seroconversion from HBeAg to HBeAb in ASC varied with different individuals. Although routine liver function tests were within normal ranges, BSP retention was abnormal in 14 out of 17 HBeAg-positive cases and in 43 out of 66 HBeAb-positive cases. The increase of abnormal BSP retention with aging suggested the insidious development of mild liver disease even after seroconversion to HBeAb. Serum ANF was positive in 9 out of 23 HBeAg-positive cases and 11 out 23 HBeAb-positive cases. This may be associated with an altered antigenicity of the nucleus of hepatocytes with active HBV replication. The majority of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers showed no general immunological abnormalities. However, some of them had slightly increased IgG, decreased complement concentrations and diminished lymphocyte response to PHA, suggesting the possibility that slight immunological response to HBV might persist. These findings emphasize the importance of long-term follow-up surveillance of asymptomatic HBsAg carriers.