Abstract

SANTIESTEBAN TORRES, Jorge Arturo; ALERM GONZALEZ, Alina  and  GONZALEZ GRIEGO, Antonio. Evaluación bioquímico-inmunológica de infectados crónicos por el virus de la hepatitis B: Comportamiento de la respuesta inmune en sus contactos familiares. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2000, vol.19, n.1, pp. 14-27. ISSN 1561-3011.

Chronic infection by HBV is a clear and important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. An important problem, for the control and eradication of this disease is the existance of chronic HBV carriers and their family contacts. A biochemical and immunological study of chronic HBV reservoirs were conducted to determine the relation between the concentrations of HBV surface antigen, detected and quantified by the ELISA method, and the serum viral DNA concentrations; as well as the correlation between the levels of antigenemia and the transaminase values (ALAT). A direct linking was proved between viral DNA and HbsAg levels and also between antigen concentration and ALAT values. A significant percent of carriers with high viral charges and normal enzymatic levels was observed. The performance of immune response to HBV in those persons living with the chronic HBV-infested subjects was analyzed and the frequency of occurence of immune, sensitive and infected persons was estimated resulting in a high number of infected persons and persons living with the chronic patients without protection. Qualitative and quantitative ELISA were used to assess the response of antibodies to HbsAg, induced by vaccines or by normal contacts of blood related and non-related persons in the family, but there was no difference  among them. The HbsAg concentration of the carrier was associated with levels of antibodies to HbsAg; after completion of the vaccination program in blood related and non-related subjects, then the association was found to be negative in the former and the existance of shared gens linked to the control of anti-HbsAg response and viral clearing were infered

Keywords : HEPATITIS B VIRUS [immunology]; HEPATITIS B, CHRONIC [immunology]; HEPATITIS B SURFACE ANTIGEN [immunology]; DISEASE TRANSMISSION; DISEASE RESERVOIRS.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )