hepatitis B E antigen (HBeAg)
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Etiology
- hepatitis B infection, acute or chronic
Clinical significance
- component of the hepatitis B Core antigen detected in serum when the virus is actively replicating
- HBeAg indicates a stage of disease in which there is ongoing viral replication
- HBeAg+ patients are more infective than HBsAg+ chronic hepatitis B carriers who are HBeAg-
- HBeAg disappears during the acute phase of hepatitis B infection with development of immunity
- HBeAg persists in chronic hepatitis B infection
- hepatitis D virus (delta agent) suppresses hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication & eliminates HBeAg from serum
More general terms
Additional terms
- hepatitis B e antigen in serum (HBeAg)
- hepatitis B infection
- hepatitis B virus (HBV)
- hepatitis B virus (HBV) serology
Component of
References
- ↑ Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 28th ed, Ewald & McKenzie (eds), Little, Brown & Co, Boston, 1995, pg 369
- ↑ Laboratory Medicine: Test Selection & Interpretation. Howanitz & Howanitz (eds), Churchill Livingstone, NY, 1991, pg 818-19
- ↑ Medical Knowledge Self Assessment Program (MKSAP) 11, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia 1998