Detection of HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes in the reactivation of hepatitis B virus replication among anti-HBe chronic carriers.
Sixty-four chronic hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers with hepatitis B e antibody (anti-HBe) were followed in order to detect reactivations of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and to assess the incidence and specificity of hepatitis B e antigen/hepatitis B e antibody (HBeAg/anti-HBe) immune complexes (ICs). In 18 out of 19 patients who suffered an increase in alanine transaminase (ALT) values, serum HBV-DNA reappeared co-occurring with the peak(s) of transaminases. HBeAg/Anti-HBe immune complexes were detected in 17/18 (94.4%) patients positive for HBV-DNA. In nine of them, the appearance of immune complexes co-occurred with prednisone therapy, in two following seroconversion after recombinant interferon alpha-2A treatment, and spontaneously in the remaining seven patients. When ALT levels dropped to normal values, immune complexes as well as HBV-DNA became undetectable. In conclusion, the detection of HBeAg/anti-HBe immune complexes seems to be a specific method to detect HBV replication among anti-HBe positive patients.
Castillo
I
I
Department of Gastroenterology, Fundación Jiménez Diaz, Madrid, Spain.
Bartolomé
J
J
Quiroga
J A
JA
Porres
J C
JC
Carreño
V
V
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014779:Virus Replication
D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens