Detection of HBeAg and anti‐HBe in acute hepatitis B by a sensitive radioimmunoassay

Abstract

A solid-phase radioimmunoassay using anti-HBe-coated polysterence beads and iodine-125-labeled anti-HBe of human origin was developed for the detection of HBeAg. Anti-HBe could be determined by a blocking test. Both assays were about 500-fold more sensitive than immunodiffusion. Few nonspecific positive results for HBeAg could be recognized in the anti-HBe test by increase in cpm over that of the negative control. HBeAg was not found in acute hepatitis A and non A-non B hepatitis or in a control group of accident patients. On admission to the hospital 12 of 48 (25%) acute hepatitis B patients from Greece and 17 of 20 (85%) acute hepatitis B patients from Germany were HBeAg-positive. All 39 initially HBeAg negative sera were already anti-HBe positive. Tests of the acute stage and follow-up sera of the 20 German patients indicated that HBeAg is regularly present in the incubation period and early acute phase of hepatitis B. After onset of disease the antigen is cleared from the serum very rapidly in uncomplicated cases and is usually followed by the appearance of anti-HBe. Like anti-HBc, anti-HBe can serve as a tool for the diagnosis of hepatitis B after the disappearance of HBsAg.

Prevalence of Hbeag and Anti–Hbe in Chronic Active Hepatitis, Cirrhosis and Primary Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Korea

“…Chronic infection associated with inflammatory disease in the liver was also associated with HBeAg since high levels of viral production were maintained for long periods in these patients. In addition, introduction of radioimmunoassay for HBeAg by Frosner et al (17) allowed for a more sensitive measurement. In 1976, we noted that HBeAg was not common in patients with primary hepatocellular carci-noma but that anti-HBe might be (Werner, B. G., et al, Lancet 1976; 1:696, Correspondence).…”

Solid-Phase Radioimmunoassay f�r Hepatitis Be Antigen (HBeAg)

“…Subsequently, protein fixed in polyacrylamide turned out to be useful as antigen source in solidphase radioimmunoassays for membrane and nuclear antigens [4,5,8]. Different from the test system recently reported by Fr6sner et al [7] the radioimmunoassay with antigen immobilized in polyacrylamide described here is useful not only for the detection of HBeAg and anti-HBe in serum samples but also in dilute solutions, e.g., effluents from column chromatographies, even in the presence of high salt concentrations or detergents. The assay system proved to be specific for the detection of HBeAg and its antibody with a sensitivity 500-750 times greater than that of the Ouchterlony double immunodiffusion test.…”

“…This antigen was demonstrated to be different from the known LeBouvier determinants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg [12]) and was later termed hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg [21]). HBeAg is present in serum in the late incubation period and the early phase of acute hepatitis B infection and is followed by the development of anti-HBe [7,11]. The HBe antigen-antibody system proved to be an excellent marker for the assessment of infectivity and prognosis of hepatitis B [1,9,[16][17][18][19].…”

Chronic viral hepatitis B in childhood

“…HBeAg and anti-HBe determination were done by highly sensitive solid phase radioimmunoassay as already described [18] ~. HBeAg and anti-HBe determination were done by highly sensitive solid phase radioimmunoassay as already described [18] ~.…”