Long-incubation (virus B, HAA-associated) hepatitis

Hepatitis. A review of the disease and its significance to dentistry

The report is a review of the literature related to hepatitis B and its implications for dental practitioners. Hepatitis B represents a serious health risk among dentists and simple preventive measures can greatly reduce the risk of transmission or contraction of the disease. Certain positive findings in a healthy history should alert the dentist that he may be treating a carrier of hepatitis B. If so, the wearing of gloves, a mask and protective eyewear will almost totally protect one from contracting the disease. To guard against transmission of hepatitis B to other patients in the dental practice, all instruments should be sterilized and all environmental surfaces should be appropriately treated. A person with a confirmed exposure to hepatitis B should be inoculated with immune serum globulin.

Enhanced HBsAb production in pathogenesis of fulminant viral hepatitis type B

The possible importance of humoral immunity in the pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis was investigated by comparing 17 patients with fulminant hepatitis type B with 20 patients with severe but non-fulminant disease. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was cleared from the serum significantly faster (P less than 0-001) in those with fulminant hepatitis, and in 41% anti-HBsAg (HBsAb) was detectable by radioimmunoassay (RIA) at presentation. In all 11 sera from patients with fulminant hepatitis that were examined by electron microscopy aggregates of HBsAg and HBsAb were seen. In contrast, HBsAb was never detected by RIA in those with non-fulminant hepatitis, and in only one serum specimen (5%) were aggregates seen on electron microscopy. A significant sex difference between fulminant and non-fulminant hepatitis was observed, 65% of patients with fulminant hepatitis but only 15% of patients with non-fulminant hepatitis being women (P less than 0-01). An enhanced production of HBsAb in fulminant hepatitis, by leading to free HBsAb in portal blood, may cause an Arthus reaction in the sinusoids of the liver with ensuing ischaemic necrosis of hepatocytes.

An automated passive haemagglutination technique suitable for the detection of hepatitis B virus antigen and antibody in blood donors

A method is described for preparing purified hepatitis B antigen (HB Ag) viral antigen without density gradient centrifugation. A method for sensitizing human group O red cells with this preparation is given, together with the technical details of an automated passive haemagglutination technique suitable for the mass screening of blood donors for HB virus and anti-HB antibody.