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Article
The Window Period Between Hepatitis B e Antigen and Antibody in Chronic Type B Hepatitis
Article first published online: 24 JUL 2008
DOI: 10.1002/hep.1840040408
Copyright © 1984 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases
1527-3350/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=3cd983af6575c8dbfd6b47a63ffa95415ace15f8 "Hepatology")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Liaw, Y.-F., Huang, M.-J., Chu, C.-M., Sheen, I.-S. and Lin, D.-Y. (1984), The Window Period Between Hepatitis B e Antigen and Antibody in Chronic Type B Hepatitis. Hepatology, 4: 619–621. doi: 10.1002/hep.1840040408
Publication History
- Issue published online: 24 JUL 2008
- Article first published online: 24 JUL 2008
- Manuscript Accepted: 20 JAN 1984
- Manuscript Received: 1 NOV 1983
Funded by
- Chang-Gung Medical Research. Grant Number: MRP-060 and 084
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Abstract
To examine the period between disappearance of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and appearance of anti-HBe, 48 patients with clinicopathologically verified chronic B hepatitis were followed every 1 to 3 months after HBeAg clearance. Sera were tested by radioimmunoassay for HBeAg and anti-HBe. Anti-HBe appeared in days to years, mostly (78.7%) within 1 year, after disappearance of HBeAg. Only 40.5% of patients had an “e-window” shorter than 1 month. Clinical and histological exacerbation preceding HBeAg clearance precipitated or accelerated appearance of anti-HBe. Since the patients in the “e-window” period were positive for DNA polymerase, it is suggested that the “e-window” reflects relative insensitivity of the radioimmunoassay rather than absence of HBeAg/anti-HBe. Therefore, HBeAg can reappear and clinical activity can relapse particularly during immunosuppressive therapy.