EXPOSURE AND IMMUNITY TO HEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN A LIVER UNIT

W. D. Reed; A. L W F Eddleston; C. G. Mitchell; W. M. Lee; Roger Williams; A. J. Zuckerman

doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(74)92646-4

EXPOSURE AND IMMUNITY TO HEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN A LIVER UNIT

W. D. Reed, A. L W F Eddleston, C. G. Mitchell, W. M. Lee, Roger Williams, A. J. Zuckerman

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30 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using the leucocyte-migration test, cell-mediated immunity to hepatitis-B antigen (HBAg) was found in 12 (86%) of the 14 members of a liver-unit staff whose work involved frequent contact with purified antigen. In addition, 5 (36%) of them had hepatitis-B antibody (HBAb) detected by radioimmunoassay. Findings in the other 29 staff members were not significantly different from those in 43 age and sex matched factory-worker controls. 30% of the controls had evidence of cell-mediated immunity and 7% had HBAb. 6 patients recovering from acute HBAg-positive hepatitis also had both cell-mediated immunity and HBAb. However, only 1 of the 86 staff members and factory controls tested had ever had clinical hepatitis and liver-function tests were normal. It is suggested that frequent exposure to low-dose HBAg by the oral route may result in a primary immunological response in the gastrointestinal mucosa without viræmia or liver disease and that such immunity is likely to be protective.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	581-583
Number of pages	3
Journal	The Lancet
Volume	303
Issue number	7858
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(74)92646-4
State	Published - Apr 6 1974

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General Medicine

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10.1016/S0140-6736(74)92646-4

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title = "EXPOSURE AND IMMUNITY TO HEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN A LIVER UNIT",

abstract = "Using the leucocyte-migration test, cell-mediated immunity to hepatitis-B antigen (HBAg) was found in 12 (86%) of the 14 members of a liver-unit staff whose work involved frequent contact with purified antigen. In addition, 5 (36%) of them had hepatitis-B antibody (HBAb) detected by radioimmunoassay. Findings in the other 29 staff members were not significantly different from those in 43 age and sex matched factory-worker controls. 30% of the controls had evidence of cell-mediated immunity and 7% had HBAb. 6 patients recovering from acute HBAg-positive hepatitis also had both cell-mediated immunity and HBAb. However, only 1 of the 86 staff members and factory controls tested had ever had clinical hepatitis and liver-function tests were normal. It is suggested that frequent exposure to low-dose HBAg by the oral route may result in a primary immunological response in the gastrointestinal mucosa without vir{\ae}mia or liver disease and that such immunity is likely to be protective.",

author = "Reed, {W. D.} and Eddleston, {A. L W F} and Mitchell, {C. G.} and Lee, {W. M.} and Roger Williams and Zuckerman, {A. J.}",

note = "Funding Information: vice, who kindly supplied plasma. Reagents for radioimmuno- assay were generously supplied by Dr J. P. Miller and Dr L. R. Overby, Abbott Laboratories, Chicago. The work was supported by the Wellcome Trust, the Medical Research Council, and Pfizer Ltd. W. M. L. was in receipt of an Lilly Fellowship American College of Physicians University of Western Australia.and Eli W. D. R. of the from Raine the travelling scholarship from the",

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AU - Williams, Roger

AU - Zuckerman, A. J.

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N2 - Using the leucocyte-migration test, cell-mediated immunity to hepatitis-B antigen (HBAg) was found in 12 (86%) of the 14 members of a liver-unit staff whose work involved frequent contact with purified antigen. In addition, 5 (36%) of them had hepatitis-B antibody (HBAb) detected by radioimmunoassay. Findings in the other 29 staff members were not significantly different from those in 43 age and sex matched factory-worker controls. 30% of the controls had evidence of cell-mediated immunity and 7% had HBAb. 6 patients recovering from acute HBAg-positive hepatitis also had both cell-mediated immunity and HBAb. However, only 1 of the 86 staff members and factory controls tested had ever had clinical hepatitis and liver-function tests were normal. It is suggested that frequent exposure to low-dose HBAg by the oral route may result in a primary immunological response in the gastrointestinal mucosa without viræmia or liver disease and that such immunity is likely to be protective.

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EXPOSURE AND IMMUNITY TO HEPATITIS-B VIRUS IN A LIVER UNIT

Abstract

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