Defects in the precore region of the HBV genome in patients with chronic hepatitis B after sustained seroconversion from HBeAg to anti‐HBe induced spontaneously or with interferon therapy
Kiyoshi Takeda, Yoshihiro Akahane, Hiroshi Suzuki, Hiroaki Okamoto, Fumio Tsuda, Yuzo Miyakawa, Makoto Mayumi – 1 December 1990 – Hepatitis B virus DNA clones were propagated from sera of six patients with chronic hepatitis B who seroconverted from HBeAg to antibody to HBeAg either spontaneously or after administration of α‐interferon. Defects in the precore region blocking synthesis and secretion of HBeAg were detected in all 46 hepatitis B virus DNA clones from three patients who remained positive for antibody to HBeAg and in whom hepatitis resolved.