[Epidemiolgical significance of HBs-antigen subtypes D and Y in the Heidelberg area].

The HGsantigen subtypes D and Y were determined radioimmunologically in 220 HGsAg-positive patients from the Heidelberg area. The subtype D was significantly more frequent (D = 68%) in patients with chronic liver diseases (n = 45) and in healthy HGsAg carriers (n = 32) than in patients with acute viral hepatitis B (n = 143, D = 41%). The subtype distribution in patients with acute viral hepatitis was not constant in the years 1970--1974. An antigen drift from subtype D to subtype Y was shown in healthy HBsAg carriers from 1971 to 1974. The differing distribution of subtypes in persons with transient and persistent HGsAg finding can be explained unequivocally by the altered epidemiological situation at the time of the infection.