title: Correlation of IgM anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV) to HDV RNA in sera of chronic HDV.
abstract: One hundred forty-four serum samples from 52 patients with chronic hepatitis D virus infection were analyzed for hepatitis D virus RNA by dot-blot hybridization using hepatitis D virus cDNA probe labeled with 32P. The results were correlated with the presence of serum IgM anti-hepatitis D virus and hepatitis D antigen in liver biopsy specimens when available. Although there was a trend of positive correlation between serum hepatitis D virus RNA and IgM anti-hepatitis D virus, no statistical significance could be found. In the serum samples with hepatitis D virus RNA, 32% were found to be negative for IgM anti-hepatitis D virus. Therefore, in chronic hepatitis D virus, absence of IgM anti-hepatitis D virus does not rule out active viral infection, as suggested by previous studies. There was a strong correlation between serum hepatitis D virus RNA and hepatic hepatitis D virus antigen. These data indicate that detection of hepatitis D virus RNA in serum samples is a reliable noninvasive marker of active viral infection.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California Liver Unit, Downey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Govindarajan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Valinluck
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Redeker
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral