Hepatitis B surface antigen positive skin lesions

This study represents the first two case reports of skin lesions positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) with the immunoperoxidase technique. A 25-year-old man and a 64-year-old woman with serologic evidence of acute B viral hepatitis and concurrent skin lesions are presented. Immunoperoxidase study of the skin lesions for HBsAg revealed strong positive staining of squamous epidermal cells, eccrine sweat glands, and endothelial cells in the superficial papillary dermis. Immunoperoxidase staining for hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was negative in both cases. Electron microscopy failed to reveal viral particles.