Comparison of DNA polymerase and radioimmune assays for the detection of hepatitis B antigens and antibodies.
In acute cases of hepatitis, DNA polymerase activity was found 2 to 3 times more frequently than positive radioimmunoassay. For each case the DNA polymerase reactivity was shown to be associated with hepatitis B antigens. Inhibitors to this DNA polymerase, with properties of IgM and IgG antibody, were found in 13 of 34 cases of acute hepatitis but only in 1 case out of 22 of cirrhosis. During the course of the acute disease these antibodies were detected 3 times more frequently than those to HBs antigen; the two types of antibodies were almost always found separately in different patients, those to DNA polymerase were apparently transient and developed earlier since they were found as early as 3 days after the clinical onset and no later than the 6th week following the onset.
D000208:Acute Disease; D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D006435:Renal Dialysis
D000906:Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D004254:DNA Nucleotidyltransferases