A Study on Hepatitis B Surface Antigen in Tear of Hepatitis Patients

ABSTRACT

We performed the radioimmunoassay to detect the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in the tear. Among 70 patients who have positive reactions for HBsAg in blood, 53 patients (75.71 %) were positive for HBsAg in tear. Among the various groups of hepatitis, the most positive reaction for HBsAg in tear was higher in serum HBeAg positive group (92.68%) than in serum HBeAg negative group (51.72%). So we emphasize the possibility of transmission of hepatitis B virus infection via tear.