title: IgM antibody response in acute hepatitis C viral infection.
abstract: IgM antibody against hepatitis C virus (IgM anti-HCV) was measured in serial samples from 15 transfusion recipients in whom posttransfusion chronic non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANBH) developed and three plasmapheresis donors during acute HCV infection using recombinant proteins derived from three immunodominant regions: core, NS-3, and NS-4 (c100). IgM anti-HCV core was detected in 13 of 15 posttransfusion patients. Nine of these patients had transient, acute-phase IgM anti-HCV core detected coincidentally or earlier than active IgG anti-HCV core response. The average duration of IgM anti-HCV core reactivity was 8.1 +/- 3.7 weeks. One patient lacking an IgM anti-HCV core response had detectable IgM anti-HCV NS-3 during the acute phase. Passive transfer of IgM anti-HCV was not observed in these posttransfusion cases, in contrast to the high frequency observed for IgG anti-HCV. Late IgM anti-HCV was detectable against core, c100, and NS-3 in three, two, and one posttransfusion patients, respectively. These data indicate that IgM anti-HCV core is a useful acute-phase marker in HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Abbott Laboratories, Abbott Park, IL 60064.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Clemens
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taskar
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vallari
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Schleicher
authors.forename: L T
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Mimms
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D010956:Plasmapheresis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral; C064544:C100 protein, hepatitis C virus; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; C069130:nucleocapsid protein, Hepatitis C virus