RT Journal A1 Ribot S, Rothstein M, Goldblat M, Grasso M T1 DUration of hepatitis b surface antigenemia (hbs ag) in hemodialysis patients JF Archives of Internal Medicine JO Archives of Internal Medicine YR 1979 FD February 1 VO 139 IS 2 SP 178 OP 180 DO 10.1001/archinte.1979.03630390036015 UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.1979.03630390036015 AB Follow-up studies were done on 231 hemodialysis patients during a period of from one to 48 months to determine the natural history of hepatitis B surface antigenemia (HBs Ag). Of those studied, 113 (49%) exhibited HBs Ag. The probability of remaining HBs Ag positive over the mean follow-up period of 14.4 months was 62%. All of the 38 patients whose HBs Ag reverted to negative did so within ten months. Those patients whose HBs Ag reverted to negative had SGOT levels that were less frequently elevated than the patients with persistent antigenemia. Of hemodialysis patients with HBs Ag, 60% showed e antigen (HBe Ag).(Arch Intern Med 139:178-180, 1979)