e antigen and anti-e in HBsAg carriers.

A new antigen/antibody system, "e" and anti-e, was described in 1972. In order to assess the clinical significance of e antigen and anti-e, their presence was correlated with the clinical status, S.G.P.T. levels and liver biopsies of HBsAg carriers. 31 of the carriers had liver biopsies, 32 of 70 carriers had anti-e and 2 had e antigen. 28 of 55 carriers with normal S.G.P.T. and 4 of 15 patients with raised S.G.P.T. had anti-e. This difference is not statistically significant. 2 patients with e had raised S.G.P.T. All patients with normal histology, 45% of patients with mild, and 23% of patients with striking histological changes in the liver had anti-e. This association of anti-e with a normal or mildly abnormal liver was statistically significant. The 2 patients with e antigen had the most severe abnormalities in liver function and liver histology.