Hepatitis B virus infection and liver function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

One hundred patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were investigated for serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and had liver function evaluated. One patient had hepatitis B surface antigen and 25 had antibodies to HBsAg which is not significantly different from normal blood donor controls. Minor liver function abnormalities were found in 35 patients and there was no difference between those with and without anti-HBs. A single patient without HBV markers had more severe liver enzyme elevation. Our data do not show a relationship between SLE and HBV and support the contention that liver diseases in lupus is mild.