[The presence and significance of HBe antigens and anti-HBe antibodies in HBs antigen positive patients].

There have been examined 105 sera of HBeantigen carriers, 30 of patients with chronic persistent hepatitis, 17 of patients with active hepatitis and 30 of HBeantigen-positive patients on chronic hemodialysis) for the presence of HBeantigen and antiHBe antibodies. A high percentage of HBeantigens was found in patients with chronic active hepatitis (88,2%) as well as in patients on chronic hemodialysis (86,7%) while the finding of antiHBeantigen in these two groups was low, 11,8% and 3,3%, respectively. The presence of HBeantigen in other two groups was lower, 26,7% in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis and 28,5% in patients with asymptomatic HBe antigenemia. AntiHBe antibodies were present in a higher percentage in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis (70%) than in asymptomatic HBeantigen carriers (57,1%). The presence of HBeantigens is not always sign of severe liver function disorder as well as the presence of anti HBe antibodies is not always sign of preserved liver function.