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Journal ArticleDOI

Vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen in Taiwan.

C E Stevens, +3 more
- 10 Apr 1975 - 
- Vol. 292, Iss: 15, pp 771-774
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TLDR
It is indicated that vertical transmission from carrier mothers frequently occurs, at least in Taiwan, and may partially explain Taiwan's high prevalence of HB5 Ag.
Abstract
To determine the frequency of vertical transmission of hepatitis B antigen (HB5 Ag) from asymptomatic carrier mothers in Taiwan to their offspring, HB5 Ag was sought by radioimmunoassay and complement fixation. Of 158 babies born to carrier mothers, antigenemia developed in 63; 51 of these antigenemic babies had become antigen positive within the six months of life. Three inter-related factors were found to increase the risk that antigenemia would develop in the infant: a high maternal complement-fixation titer for HB5 Ag: presence of HB5 Ag in the baby's umbilical-cord blood: and antigenemia in siblings. In contrast to previous studies, these findings indicate that vertical transmission from carrier mothers frequently occurs, at least in Taiwan, and may partially explain Taiwan's high prevalence of HB5 Ag.

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Citations
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Hepatitis B Virus Infection — Natural History and Clinical Consequences

TL;DR: The structure and replication cycle of hepatitis B virus is examined and the natural history of primary infection, the mechanisms of clearance of the virus, and reasons for persistent infection are discussed.
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Universal hepatitis B vaccination in Taiwan and the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children. Taiwan Childhood Hepatoma Study Group.

TL;DR: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children in Taiwan from 1981 to 1994 has declined since the institution of Taiwan's program of universal hepatitis B vaccination, and the corresponding rates of mortality have decreased.
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TL;DR: The state of knowledge in this very active field of hepatitis B viruses is reviewed with an emphasis on past accomplishments as well as goals for the future.
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Hepatitis B virus infection

TL;DR: Developing new therapies that can improve HBsAg clearance and virological cure is warranted because long-term antiviral treatment can reverse cirrhosis and reduce hepatocellular carcinoma.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

Hemagglutination Assay for Antigen and Antibody Associated with Viral Hepatitis

TL;DR: The hemagglutination test has the sensitivity and rapidity of the best tests available, is simpler to perform, and lends itself to large-scale screening of blood donors.
Journal ArticleDOI

The heterogeneity of Australia antigen.

TL;DR: The relationship of these Australia (Au) particles to the infective agent itself is still unresolved, but present evidence suggests that they are fragments of viral lipoprotein envelope.
Journal Article

Detection of Additional Antigenic Determinants of Hepatitis B Antigen

TL;DR: Preliminary data suggest w is more common that r on HB Ag in the United States, but r is most common in Thailand, and further study after absorbing the antisersa with heterologous antigens indicated that the reference antisera were distinguishing two additional antigenic determinants, designated w and r.
Journal ArticleDOI

Virus-like antigen, antibody, and antigen-antibody complexes in hepatitis measured by complement fixation.

TL;DR: Complement fixation techniques are described for measuring a virus-like antigen associated with viral hepatitis, which was found in the blood of 98 percent of 130 patients, with the serum form of hepatitis, from whom multiple samples were obtained.
Journal ArticleDOI

Hepatitis-associated antigen and hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan.

TL;DR: Serums from 55 patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma were examined for the presence of hepatitis-associated antigen (HAA), and forty-four had the antigen in their serums.
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