title: Hepatitis B virus DNA in blood specimens of anti HBc IgM positive patients.
abstract: This study compares the presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and HBV e antigen in sera positive for IgM antibody to HBV core antigen. Of the 31 sera included in the study, 14 were HBV DNA positive. Eight sera were positive for HBV DNA but negative for HBeAg and 3 sera were negative for HBV DNA but positive for HBeAg. The HBV DNA positive specimens included also 3 HBsAg negative sera. The importance of the level of the anti HBc IgM antibody is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, University of Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hukkanen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hakkarainen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leinikki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hyypiä
mesh_terms: D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M