title: IgM levels and IgM-mediated immune responses in patients with acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B and chronic HB antigenaemia.
abstract: Immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels and their relationship to isohaemagglutinins, febrile agglutinins, sheep cell agglutinins, and rheumatoid factor were measured in patients with acute hepatitis A, acute hepatitis B, chronic hepatitis B antigenaemia, and normal control populations. Significant IgM elevations were observed in both types of acute hepatitis, but not in chronic hepatitis B antigenaemia. There was no correlation of the IgM level with either the prevalence or titre of any IgM-mediated immune response studied. These data suggest that the IgM elevations in both types of hepatitis may reflect virus-specific IgM synthesis.
mesh_terms: D000373:Agglutinins / Q000032:analysis; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000373:Agglutinins; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor