Hepatitis B surface antigen in pancreatic and biliary secretions.

Pure pancreatic juice (PPJ) and pure bile (PBJ) were obtained by endoscopic retrograde cannulation of the pancreatic duct and common bile duct in 26 patients with acute (15) and chronic (11) hepatitis B infections and the specimens were tested for HBsAg. HBsAg was detected in PPJ in 8 of 15 patients with acute infections and 3 of 10 with chronic infections. HBsAg was detected in PBJ in 7 of 10 with acute infections and only 2 of 5 with chronic type B infection. Since normal PPJ was shown to be inhibitory to the detection of HBsAg, it is suggested that the HBsAg-positive PPJ represents heavy viral excretion.