19S and 7-8S forms of IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in acute icteric hepatitis superimposed on hepatitis B surface antigen carriage.
The 19S and 7-8S forms of IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) were separated by rate-zonal centrifugation from the serum of 20 Greek hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers with a superimposed acute icteric hepatitis positive for IgM anti-HBc by a radioimmunoassay. Serological markers of hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis D virus (HDV) infections were detected with radioimmunoassays and serum HBV DNA was detected with molecular hybridization techniques. Eighteen of the 20 carriers showed a predominance of one or the other form of IgM anti-HBc. Low molecular weight (7-8S) IgM anti-HBc was observed more frequently in HDV superinfection (5/9) and was related to a low mortality (1/9). In contrast, 19S IgM anti-HBc was observed more frequently in reactivation of chronic hepatitis B (6/9) and was related to a high mortality (5/9). These preliminary data show that in HBsAg carriers with a superimposed acute icteric hepatitis, predominance of 19S IgM anti-HBc is frequently associated with a severe clinical course; the opposite is true for predominance of 7-8S IgM anti-HBc.
Tassopoulos
N C
NC
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Sjogren
M H
MH
Purcell
R H
RH
D000208:Acute Disease; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012008:Recurrence
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M