Multiple hepatitis B virus markers in dialysis patients.

1. Use of multiple serological markers was of value to determine different hepatitis B profiles in dialysis patients. 2. HBSAg and anti-HBS alone are insufficient to eliminate the risk of hepatitis B virus infection. Anti-HBC was detected as the only marker in 3.5% of the patients, and these patients should be considered potentially infectious. 3. The incidence of hepatitis B was higher in "in-center" hemodialysis patients (81%) compared to home hemodialysis patients (38.4%), and CAPD patients (23.2%). 4. Most of the patients (39.4%) demonstrated that they already had hepatitis B virus infection and had developed persisting immunity. 5. Eighteen patients (10.5%) should be regarded as highly infectious according to their profile (Pattern III). 6. Two patients had an unusual pattern that showed persistent co-existence of HBSAG+ and anti-HBS+, plus HBeAg+ and anti-HBc+. This pattern was due to reinfection with a different subtype of hepatitis B virus.