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Samuel Vaisrub, MD

JAMA. 1976;236(20):2321.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

The identification of hepatitis B surface antigen (HB_sAg) and subsequently of core antigen and Dane particles opened new approaches to prophylaxis and treatment of hepatitis B (HB). For one, it furnished a marker for the screening of blood donors. Elimination of donated blood containing HB_sAg has reduced the incidence of HB. The reduction, however, has not been substantial enough to prevent endemic and epidemic occurrences among persons at risk through frequent exposure to HB virus. HB is still common among patients, staff, and laboratory personnel in hemodialysis units and hospital wards in which blood or blood products are administered frequently.

Protective screening is patently not the complete answer to HB prophylaxis. Much more rewarding would be the conventional approach, as in other infectious diseases, by vaccination. This has proved difficult. HB_sAg is not a "conventional" immunogen for which an animal experimental model could be . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Footnotes
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