Tissue polypeptide specific antigen in hepatitis B carriers.

Forty-three normal and thirty-five healthy Chinese hepatitis B carriers were included in our study for comparison with each other. The serum levels of tissue polypeptide specific antigen were measured with a method of immunoradiometric assay (IRMA). The results revealed that the mean +/- SD TPS levels in the 43 normal Chinese and 35 carriers are 85.0 +/- 16.0 and 131.9 +/- 20.1 U/L respectively. There is a significant statistical difference for the TPS level between the two groups. In conclusion, we suggest that the existence of hepatitis B surface antigen is an important factor affecting the serum level of TPS.