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  • Title: Type B hepatitis: the infectivity of blood positive for e antigen and DNA polymerase after accidental needlestick exposure.
    Author: Alter HJ, Seeff LB, Kaplan PM, McAuliffe VJ, Wright EC, Gerin JL, Purcell RH, Holland PV, Zimmerman HJ.
    Journal: N Engl J Med; 1976 Oct 21; 295(17):909-13. PubMed ID: 967200.
    Abstract:
    To determine the relation between the presence of donor DNA polymerase and e antigen, and recipient hepatitis, we tested, under code, serums from a controlled trial of hepatitis B immune globulin used to treat individuals accidentally inoculated with HBs Ag-positive blood. All recipients lacked antibody to HBs Ag. In 29 of 31 donors, both polymerase and e were in perfect agreement; both demonstrated a highly significant correlation with recipient hepatitis (P less than 0.001). DNA polymerase/e-negative blood did not cause hepatitis. Blood containing polymerase or e antigen did not cause hepatitis in six of 31 and four of 18 recipients, respectively. Hepatitis did not correlate with transaminase or duration of antigenemia in the donor. Polymerase and e appear to be indicators of the relative infectivity of HBs Ag-positive serum, particularly after small-volume exposure. They may be important determinants in assessing infectivity of chronic carriers of HBs Ag and in evaluating efficacy of hepatitis B immune globulin and hepatitis B vaccines.
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