Lack of leukocyte migration inhibition by hepatitis B antigen and normal nonspecific immunoreactivity in asymptomatic carriers.

The immune response to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBS Ag) was studied in 25 asymptomatic carriers by the leukocyte migration-inhibition (LMI) test in agarose. In the presence of purified HBS Ag, inhibition was demonstrated in only four of 25 carriers, in contrast to 24 of 28 patients who cleared the antigen after acute infection with hepatitis B. Tuberculin purified protein derivative (PPD) was also used as an antigen for the LMI test in these carriers. Inhibition was demonstrated in only 12 of 25 individuals who had positive PPD skin tests, in contrast to all of 14 normal noncarrier individuals with positive PPD skin tests and none of 12 normal noncarrier of the asymptomatic carriers gave normal results. The lack of an immune response to HBS Ag was thought to be responsible for the persistence of the antigen and also for the absence of symptoms.