title: IgM anti-HBc in anti-HBe positive chronic type B hepatitis with acute exacerbations.
abstract: IgM anti-HBc was measured by radioimmunoassay in serially collected serum samples during 20 acute exacerbations which developed in 14 patients with anti-HBe positive chronic type B hepatitis. IgM anti-HBc became positive in 12 of the 14 (86%) patients and in 18 of the 20 (90%) exacerbations, and elevation of IgM anti-HBc which was believed to be significant was also observed in the remaining two patients. In most of the patients who also had determinations of serum hepatitis B virus DNA, the hepatitis B virus DNA became positive. These results suggest that ALT elevation in anti-HBe positive chronic type B hepatitis is associated with active replication of hepatitis B virus. It is considered to be useful to measure IgM anti-HBc for the purpose of identifying the causes of ALT elevation in anti-HBe positive chronic type B hepatitis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M