Hepatitis B antigen, alpha1 fetoprotein and liver disease in the eastern highlands of Papua New Guinea.

The sera from 89 patients from the Eastern Higlands of Papua New Guinea, all with histologically diagnosed liver disease, were tested for Hepatitis B Antigen (HB Ag) and Hepatitis B antibody (HB Ab) and alpha1 fetoprotein (AFP) by a variety of techniques which included radioimmunoassay. In the three main forms of liver disease, viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatoma, HB Ag was found with a higher frequency than in patients with non specific liver disease. The frequency of HB Ab was decreased in cirrhosis and hepatoma. AFP was detected in all hepatoma patients by radioimmunoassay, levels being very high in most subjects. In hepatitis, cirrhosis and non specific liver disease, elevated levels of AFP were again frequently present, but at generally lower levels. It is conlcuded that HB Ag and AFP frequency and levels in liver disease are similar to those reported from other tropical countries. Further study is required to elicit the cellular immunological changes in liver disease.