Abstract
The etiology of non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) in renal dialysis patients was determined. Hepatitis C virus was present in many, but its appearance did not correlate with elevated alanine aminotransaminase. When sera from these patients were tested for antibodies against hepatitis B virus (HBV) X antigen and polymerase, 70% were positive. HBV infection was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using several HBV-specific primer pairs. However, amplification with X region primers failed to yield products in many patients. Cloning and sequencing of these products demonstrated deletions within the X region. Hence, X-deletion variants of HBV are strongly associated with NANBH in renal dialysis patients.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Alanine Transaminase / blood
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Base Sequence
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Cloning, Molecular
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DNA Primers
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DNA, Viral / blood
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Genes, Viral
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Hepatitis B Antigens / genetics
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood*
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Hepatitis B virus / genetics
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Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
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Hepatitis C / blood
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Hepatitis C / virology*
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Humans
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Molecular Sequence Data
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Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Reference Values
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Renal Dialysis
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Sequence Deletion*
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Trans-Activators / blood
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Trans-Activators / genetics*
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Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
Substances
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DNA Primers
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DNA, Viral
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Hepatitis B Antigens
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Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
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Trans-Activators
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Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins
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hepatitis B virus X protein
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Alanine Transaminase
Associated data
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GENBANK/S79555
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GENBANK/S79556