RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Relationship between HBV-specific DNA polymerase and HBe antigen/antibody system in chronic HBV infection: factors determining selection of patients and outcome of antiviral therapy. JF Gut JO Gut FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology SP 143 OP 147 DO 10.1136/gut.24.2.143 VO 24 IS 2 A1 A Craxi A1 I V Weller A1 M F Bassendine A1 M J Fowler A1 J Monjardino A1 H C Thomas A1 S Sherlock YR 1983 UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/24/2/143.abstract AB The sera of 23% of HBe antigen positive patients with chronic hepatitis are HBV-DNA polymerase negative. These patients are probably undergoing spontaneous seroconversion from a state of high to low viral replication and do not require antiviral therapy. In chronic HBV infection rapid changes in viral replication as a result of antiviral therapy are reflected by changes in HBV-DNA and HBV-DNA polymerase but not by changes in HBe antigen concentrations. Disappearance of HBe antigen from serum may be delayed for 180 days after permanent inhibition of HBV replication with adenine arabinoside or its monophosphate derivative.