Coexistence of Hepatitis B Surface Antigen (HBsAg) and Heterologous Subtype-Specific Antibodies to HBsAg among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infection

摘要

Background. The coexistence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies to HBsAg (anti-HBs) in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been explained by the presence of viral escape mutants. Yet, no systematic analysis of such patients has been performed. We analyzed both the HBV strains and the nature of anti-HBs in such patients.