[Vasculitis in hepatitis B infection]

Personal observations have confirmed the frequent association of HB-infection with certain forms of vasculitis. 4 of 11 patients with polyarteritis nodosa were repeatedly found to be HBs-Ag positive and had chronic hepatitis of varying severity. In patients with giant cell arteritis (polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis) anti-HBs was found more frequently than in controls, especially when examined within 6 months after onset of symptoms (7 of 20 equal 35% had anti-HBs, versus 6% of controls). Several lines of evidence point to the important role played by circulating HBs-Ag/anti-HBs complexes in the development of HB-associated vasculitis.