Differential Distribution of Australia-Antigen-Associated Particles in Patients with Liver Diseases and Normal Carriers

Abstract

Electron microscopy of Australia antigen particles was carried out on 80 serum specimens from 42 patients with various liver diseases and from six "normal" carriers. Dane particles were found in the serum of 11 of 13 patients with persistent antigenemia and chronic hepatitis, but in only seven of 24 patients with uncomplicated acute hepatitis and transient antigenemia. No Dane particles were found in the specimens of six healthy carriers. The ratio between the small spherical particles and the rod-shaped particles was on an average 18.4 in patients with uncomplicated acute hepatitis and 3.8 in those with persistent antigenemia and chronic hepatitis. In eight patients serum samples were available from both the acute and the chronic phase of hepatitis, and, initially, the particle-pattern was similar to the pattern seen in patients with chronic hepatitis.