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Research Article
Cell-mediated immunity in HBeAg-positive homosexuals with chronic liver disease.
  1. L Viola,
  2. I G Barrison,
  3. F Paradinas,
  4. J C Coleman,
  5. I M Murray-Lyon

    Abstract

    Chronic liver disease developing after infection with the hepatitis B virus may be due to impairment of cell-mediated immunity (CMI). In a study of CMI by the lymphocyte transformation test to two mitogens and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) the response to the mitogens, phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and purified protein derivative (PPD), was normal in all of 15 male homosexuals with HBsAg-positive chronic liver disease, indicating a normal non-specific cellular immune response. By contrast, only one of the 15 patients showed a response to HBsAg, which may explain the high prevalence of chronic HBsAg carriage in these patients.

    https://doi.org/10.1136/sti.58.1.59

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