[A follow-up study on 103 HBsAg carriers during 16-21 years]

One hundred and three HBsAg carriers were followed up for 16-21 years with an average of 18.6 years. Results showed 30 of them recovered from carrier status. 26 became post-hepatitis carriers and 21 asymptomatic carriers, six suffered from acute hepatitis B and seven chronic active hepatitis, and 13 died. Negative conversion rate of HBsAg averaged 33.3% with 13.8% for those aged 30 or less and 42.6% for those over 30. Negative conversion rate of HBsAg and recover rate in carriers with high-titer HBsAg were very significantly lower, and incidence rates of acute hepatitis B and chronic active hepatitis significantly higher than those with low titer.