[Dynamics of immunologic reactivity in the acute phase of virus hepatitis B]

In 15 patients with acute icteric viral hepatitis B the immunological reactivity was tested. The examinations were performed on the 1st, 7th, and 14th day of hospitalization. They consisted of the determination of the HBsAg and its antibodies in the serum, of the percentage of the B- and T-lymphocytes, of the lymphocyte transformation test under the influence of phytohaemagglutinin, of the lymphocyte migration inhibitory test when the HBsAg is present as well as of the determination of the IgG, IgA and the IgM-level. A decreased percentage of the T-lymphocytes, a decreased blastic transformation and an inhibition of the lymphocyte migration was proved. After a transient increase in the first and second examination the IgG-level returned to the normal in the third examination, whereas the IgM-level increased. Finally dynamics and importance of the cellular reactivity in the pathogenesis of viral hepatitis B are discussed.