Incidence and clinical significance of e antigen and antibody in acute and chronic liver disease.

"e" is a serum antigen associated with type-B hepatitis. It is found only in hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive sera, but is antigenically distinct from HBsAg. e antigen was not detected in the serum of any of 99 cases of acute type-B hepatitis who recovered normally. Its antibody, anti-e, was found in 14 (14%). The antibody usually appeared before clearance of HBsAg and before appearance of HBsAb. Serum e was not detected in any of 29 symptom-free carriers of HBsAg, but 21 (73%) showed anti-e. Serum e was found in chronic active hepatitis (44%) and chronic persistent hepatitis (31%). The antibody, however, was detected in only 2 of 79 patients with chronic active hepatitis but in 7 (44%) of chronic persistent hepatitis. Serum e was not found in 5 patients with primary liver-cell carcinoma or 5 with inactive HBsAg-positive cirrhosis. The antibody was, however, found in all 5 of those with inactive cirrhosis and in 4 of the 5 with primary cancer. These results suggest that the presence of e antigen is associated with active and usually continuing liver disease. Anti-e, however, is associated with inactive liver disease and asymptomatic carriage of HBsAg, and its presence must be regarded as a valuable sign in predicting those who will escape progressive chronic liver disease.