[Demonstration of hepatitis Be-antigen and of antibodies against it (author's transl)].

Results of demonstrating HBe-antigen and anti-HBe antibodies by radioimmunoassay and by rheophoresis were compared. The former method was more sensitive by a factor of 500 in demonstrating HBe-antigen. Results were not reproducible in 1.14% of cases. Radioimmunoassay makes it possible to demonstrate HBe-antigen or anti-HBe in 90% of HBs-antigen containing sera from patients with hepatitis B or chronic liver damage, and in drug addicts or blood donours. With rheophoresis positive results were obtained in less than 10%. Early seroconversion from HBe-antigen to anti-HBe was demonstrated in patients with hepatitis B. Seroconversion was delayed in drug addicts. Persistence of HBe-antigen for 1-2 years was noted in some cases.