Immunohistochemical investigation of hepatitis B virus (HBV) associated antigens in liver tissues in asymptomatic HBs antigen carrier associated with simultaneous hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection

Abstract

In three asymptomatic HBs antigen carriers infected with HAV the changes of serum HBV associated antigen and antibody system and HBV associated antigens in liver tissue were investigated.
1) In serum, HBs antigen titer was low in acute phase of superimposed type A viral hepatitis and increased in recovery phase. Anti-HBc titer showed no similar changes. HBe antigen and anti-HBe revealed almost the same level throughout the course.
2) In liver tissue, HBs antigen positive hepatocyte was rare or disappeared in acute phase of superimposed type A viral hepatitis and increased distinctly in recovery and healing phase. One case revealed marked membranous localization of HBs antigen in recovery phase. HBc and HBe antigens were rare in acute phase and increased in healing phase in serum HBe antigen positive case.
3) It is suggested that the changes of HBs antigen titer in serum reflected amounts of HBs antigen produced in liver tissue. However, changes of serum HBe antigen titer and amount of HBe antigen in hepatocytes showed no pararell relation.