Immunostaining for hepatitis B viral antigens in liver: Association with clinical, biochemical, and virologic features of disease.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Staining for hepatitis B viral antigens is often done in liver biopsies from patients with chronic hepatitis B, but its correlates with clinical phenotypes are not well described. METHODS: Biopsies were collected from a large cohort of adults and children with chronic hepatitis B viral infection through the Hepatitis B Research Network. Immunohistochemical staining of sections was done for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) and then centrally read by the pathology committee. The degree of liver injury and pattern of staining were then correlated with clinical characteristics, including the clinical phenotype of hepatitis B. RESULTS: Biopsies from 467 subjects were studied, including 46 from children. Immunostaining for HBsAg was positive in 417 (90%) with scattered hepatocyte staining being the most common pattern. HBsAg staining correlated best with serum levels of HBsAg and hepatitis B viral DNA; the absence of HBsAg staining was often a prelude to loss of HBsAg from serum. HBcAg staining was positive in 225 (49%), and, while cytoplasmic staining was more frequent than nuclear staining, both nuclear and cytoplasmic positivity were often seen in the same specimen. Staining for HBcAg correlated with both level of viremia and liver injury. No biopsies from inactive carriers had stainable HBcAg, while 91% of the biopsies from those with hepatitis B e antigen-positive chronic hepatitis B stained positively for HBcAg. CONCLUSION: Immunostaining for hepatitis B viral antigens may yield helpful insights into liver disease pathogenesis but appears to add little to commonly used serological and biochemical blood tests.

Screening and Prophylaxis to Prevent Hepatitis B Reactivation: Introduction and Immunology.

Current recommendations concerning hepatitis C virus (HBV) reactivation are limited, with nearly all guidelines focused on its occurrence in patients with hematological malignancies or some solid tumors, who are treated with immunosuppressive therapies. Few of the guidelines address reactivation in patients receiving immunosuppression with organ transplants or treatment with any of the many immunosuppressive agents in use today for the treatment of multiple different diseases, or in patients receiving the direct-acting antivirals used in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). This article covers the immunology of HBV reactivation, mechanisms of viral clearance, and recommendations for screening and prophylaxis.

Relationship Between Tongue Manifestations and Immune Function in Chronic Hepatitis B with HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcAb Positive / 广州中医药大学学报

[ Objective ] To investigate the relationship between tongue manifestations and immune function in chronic hepatitis B with HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcAb positive. [Methods] Among the cases of HBsAg, HBeAg and HBcAb positive from the out - patient department and health screening survey, 200 chronic hepatitis patients and 100 asymptomatic HBV carriers with glumatic - pyruvic transaminase at normal level were included. Thirty healthy volunteers served as control. Relationship of tongue manifestations with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) skin test and the serum levels of immunoglobulin (Ig) G, IgA and IgM was analyzed. [Results] With the development of chronic hepatitis, the immune function became disordered and tongue manifestations abnormal. Reddish tongue with or without yellowish greasy fur or yellowish fur showed the hyperactivity of immune function; whitish swollen tongue with or without whitish greasy fur indicated the hypoactivity of immune function; dull purplish tongue was the sign of disordered immune function. The shape and color of tongue was superior to tongue fur in showing the condition of immune function ( P

Immunohistochemical Observation of 6 Antigen in Liver Sections from the Patients with Severe Hepatitis B in Chongqing Area / 第三军医大学学报

The immunohistocheinical observation of & antigen in liver sections from 27 cases of severe hepatitis B (SHE) was performed with ABC method and the result was compared with that of & antibody in the sera. 6 cases of SHB were & antigen positive in liver sections (6/27, 22.22%) . It showed a high attack rate of ? agent in SHE cases in Chongqing area. The detective rate for 5 agent infection could be increased by the immunohistochemical measurement. There was positive staining in both nuclei and cytoplasm in all the 6 cases.