Presence and persistence of australia antigen in patients with liver disorders

Abstract Patients with suspected disease involving the liver and seen at a department for infectious diseases were examined routinely for Au-antigen. Of 344 patients examined, 259 were found to have biochemical evidence of liver affection. Acute hepatitis was diagnosed in 129, including 65 with serum hepatitis, 18 with infectious hepatitis and 46 with sporadic hepatitis. 62 patients had Au-antigen and 60 of them belonged to the group acute hepatitis. 69% of the patients with serum hepatitis and 28% of those with sporadic hepatitis were Au-antigen positive. Most of the patients harboured the antigen only temporarily. It was demonstrated up to 2-7 weeks after anamnestic onset. In 5 patients Au-antigen in the serum persisted for 5-15 months; histologic examination of biopsy specimen showed signs of chronic liver disease in 4, only mild changes in 1. Only 3 patients had antibodies in the serum; all of them had been exposed to antigen for a long time. In one patient with arthritis Au-antigen was repeatedly demonstrated in both serum and joint exudate.