What Are Hepatitis B Antigens?

The shell part of HBV contains surface antigen HBsAg (term: Hepatitis B surface antigen), the core part contains core antigen HBcAg, e antigen HBEAg (medical term: Hepatitis B E antigen) and HBV DNA HBV-DNA, deoxygenation RNA polymerase is DNA-P. After a person is infected with hepatitis B virus, a large amount of surface antigens often remain in the blood, forming surface antigenemia. The surface antigen itself is not the entire hepatitis B virus, but the shell of the hepatitis B virus. It is not infectious but antigenic. It is only one of the signs of hepatitis B virus infection. It can indicate that you have been infected with hepatitis B virus in the past, or that you are currently infected with hepatitis B virus.

Hepatitis B surface antigen

Interpretation of hepatitis B surface antigen

The 2008 edition of the Asia-Pacific Hepatology Research Association's "Guideline for the Treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B" states that China is a high-endemic area of hepatitis B virus infection. The total number of people carrying hepatitis B surface antigen has exceeded 100 million, of whom more than 20 million are chronic hepatitis B patients. About 1.6% of the total population.

Normal hepatitis B surface antigen

Liver experts said that in different hospitals, the normal range of hepatitis B surface antigens will vary widely. The range of the normal value of hepatitis B surface antigen is differently expressed, and its value is also different. The normal values of hepatitis B surface antigen are mainly expressed in the following ways:

1, ng / ml notation. If the normal value of hepatitis B surface antigen (ng / ml) is greater than 0.18 ng / ml, it means that the patient has hepatitis B virus, and the hepatitis B surface antigen is regarded as a positive result, otherwise it is considered negative.

2. S / CO value representation. If the normal value of the hepatitis B surface antigen (S / CO) is greater than 1S / CO, it means that the patient has hepatitis B virus, and the hepatitis B surface antigen is regarded as a positive result, otherwise it is considered negative.

3. S / N value representation. The AXSYM immunoanalyzer obtains the value of S / N. If the normal value of the hepatitis B surface antigen (S / N) is greater than 2.1S / N, it means that the patient has hepatitis B virus and the hepatitis B surface antigen and is regarded as a positive result, otherwise it is regarded as a positive result. Considered negative.

Can Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Positive Be Negative?

(1) Most adults infected with hepatitis B virus will automatically turn negative: Most adult infections are manifested as acute hepatitis B (within half a year of infection), and most (90%) of acute infections will heal on their own, that is, within 3 months. Positive antigens become negative and surface antibodies are produced. The other 10% cannot produce enough hepatitis B surface antibodies to neutralize surface antigens if the immune function is poor. The hepatitis B surface antigens in serum can continue to be positive; that is, they become chronic carriers of hepatitis B virus. Therefore, it is advocated that antibody-negative adults should also get hepatitis B vaccine.

(2) 1-5% of chronic hepatitis B carriers can turn surface antigens into negative each year: The vast majority of chronic hepatitis B carriers are infected when the immune system is immature in childhood. Therefore, the immune system fails to recognize the virus and becomes a hepatitis B virus carrier. The majority of hepatitis B virus carriers are "big three positives" when they are young. At this time, the virus and the body are relatively stable and will not develop because of immune tolerance. With age, 50% of the immune recovery can gradually be changed to "small three positives." "Yang" (ie, e antigen negative), 1% of which can completely eliminate the virus surface antigen and turn negative.

Hepatitis B surface antigen turned negative

Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is the coat protein of HBV and is not infectious, but its appearance is often accompanied by the presence of HBV, so it is a sign of HBV infection. It can be found in patients' blood, saliva, breast milk, sweat, tears, nasopharyngeal secretions, semen and vaginal secretions. Two to six months after infection with hepatitis B virus, positive results can be detected in the serum 2 to 8 weeks before the alanine aminotransferase is elevated. HBsAg positive only indicates that the person is infected with HBV, but it is not certain whether the person is infectious. If it is necessary to determine whether the hepatitis B virus is infectious in a patient ^[1] , other items should be tested.

Hepatitis B surface antigen turning negative means that hepatitis B is cured and will not be contagious, which means that the patient has basically got rid of hepatitis B disease, but he needs to be monitored for life. Even if the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) has turned negative, we cannot relax our vigilance . Long-term maintenance requires the joint efforts of doctors and patients. As long as you pay attention to your lifestyle and diet in the future, basically hepatitis B will not recur.

Will hepatitis B surface antigen disappear?

When the hepatitis B virus invades the human body, it will stimulate the human immune system to produce an immune response, and the B cells in the immune system in the body will secrete a deliberate human immunoglobulin, that is, a surface antibody, which is specific to the hepatitis B surface antigen. Sexual combination, and then with the body's other immune capabilities, the hepatitis B virus is cleaned up, and at the same time, it can protect the body from being infected by the hepatitis B virus at the same time. With surface antibodies, it is proved that people have developed immunity. If a positive result of hepatitis B surface antibodies is detected, it means that they are not infected with hepatitis B.

So, will hepatitis B surface antibodies disappear?

It is undeniable that hepatitis B surface antibodies will gradually decline or disappear over time . Therefore, in order to maintain the continuous and effective existence of hepatitis B antibodies, it is necessary to regularly check the status of hepatitis B surface antibodies and intensify vaccination against hepatitis B every 3-4 years .

Hepatitis B surface antigen antigen positive and marriage relationship

Patients with hepatitis B surface antigen positive may marry

Hepatitis B surface antigens are not infectious per se and should not be considered a sign of infectivity. However, in general, other markers of hepatitis B surface antigen-positive hepatitis B virus are present at the same time, indicating that the person's blood is carrying or the presence of hepatitis B virus replication. Therefore, hepatitis B surface antigen-positive persons and their subjects are advised to check for hepatitis B virus markers before getting married. If the other person's surface antibody is positive, it means that the other person is already immune to the hepatitis B virus, and it is not easy to be infected again, and they can get married. If the other person's hepatitis B signs are negative, it indicates that the other person is neither infected nor immune to the hepatitis B virus, and is easily infected after marriage, so it is not suitable to get married for the time being. Hepatitis B vaccine should be injected according to the "0, 1, 6" plan. It may be safer to wait 6 months before getting enough protective antibodies in your body. ^[2]

Hepatitis B surface antigen Hepatitis B diet

Hepatitis B patients should avoid spicy foods because spicy foods can cause digestive dysfunction and weaken the digestive function of patients.

Cigarettes also need to be quit in the daily life of patients with hepatitis B, because tobacco is toxic to many oils, which can cause liver damage and is not good for the repair and regeneration of liver cells.

Alcohol must be abstained in the life of patients with hepatitis B, because most of the alcohol is metabolized by the liver, which will cause damage to liver cells and necrosis of liver cells. Therefore, patients with liver disease should not drink alcohol, even a small amount of alcohol will cause repeated liver disease. attack.

Hepatitis B patients do not eat processed foods because they do not eat processed foods . The preservatives added to these foods are toxic to the liver and are not conducive to recovery.

Hepatitis B patients should avoid taking antibiotics and hormones , because it is a third drug poison, the drug is harmful to the liver. Hepatitis B patients should use the drug reasonably with the knowledge of the doctor.

Patients with hepatitis B should avoid using supplements indiscriminately , because a reasonable diet is helpful for patients with liver disease, and inappropriate use of supplements, causing improper nourishment, will lead to liver dysfunction and adverse health recovery.

Seven of the taboos in the diet of hepatitis B patients. Too much use of high-protein diet and high-copper diet . This is mainly because eating more of these foods will cause symptoms of indigestion and abdominal distension in patients with hepatitis B who have incomplete digestive function.