[Hepatitis B antigens (surface and e) and their antibodies in viral hepatitis patients, pregnant women and newborn infants in the Mongolian People's Republic].

The presence of HBs antigen and antibody to it was studied in 516 patients with acute viral hepatitis, convalescents, and patients with chronic liver diseases, 613 pregnant women, and 265 newborn babies using the gel precipitation test, and some of them (747 persons) by the reverse passive hemagglutination (RPHA) test. A high rate of HBs findings was observed both in patients with acute viral hepatitis (54.2%, RPHA) and in convalescents and patients with chronic liver diseases (44.9%, RPHA). Despite wide occurrence of hepatitis B virus carrier state among pregnant women (10.1%, RPHA), the rate of infection in newborn babies was only 0.6% by RPHA. The data are also presented on the distribution of the main subtypes of HBs and HBe antigens and antibody to them in the observed of patients and carriers.