Detection of Hepatitis B Virus DNA in Pancreas, Kidney and Skin of Two Human Carriers of the Virus

Unité de Recombinaison et Expression Génétique (Inserm U. 163 - CNRS LA 271), Institut Pasteur, 28, rue du Docteur Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15
and¹ Laboratoire d'Anatomopathologie, Hôpital Henri Mondor, 51, avenue du Maréchal de-Lattre-de-Tassigny, 94 Creteil, France

Using the Southern blot technique, we have analysed the presence and state of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in non-hepatic tissue from two human HBV carriers. HBV DNA sequences were detected in the pancreas, kidney and skin, demonstrating HBV infection of these organs. Moreover, the restriction DNA patterns were consistent with the integration of these viral sequences into high molecular weight DNA. These results demonstrate that HBV infection is not restricted to the liver.