Hepatitis B infections in renal transplantied patients

Multiple serum samples collected from ten renal transplanted patients were examined by means of radioimmunoassay procedures in order to check and quantitate both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and antibody to it (anti-HBs). The anticomplementary activity of serum, levels of serum immunoglobulins and other laboratory parameters were also tested and related to the clinical followup of patients in the pre- and post-operative period, during which they underwent immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine, methyl-prednisolone and antilymphocyte globulin. The results obtained provided evdence that all subjects under examination either were currently infected or had been previously exposed to hepatitis B virus. Five basic situations could be detected: state of persistent HBs Ag carrier (I) or of persistent positivity for anti-HBs (II) or reinfections (IV) and presence of HBs Ag/anti-HBs immunocomplexes (V). All HBs Ag and anti-HBs-positive sera were ayw subtype, which is typical for hepatitis B virus circulating in Italy.