Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) as a marker of interferon therapy in patients with persistent hepatitis B virus infection.
Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 96 HBV carriers. IgM anti-HBc was detected in 17 of 66 patients with chronic active hepatitis and in 4 of 11 with liver cirrhosis. This antibody was not present in asymptomatic carriers or in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. Testing of sequential samples revealed that the presence of IgM anti-HBc indicated active replication of HBV and at the same time an immune response to the virus. The relationship between IgM anti-HBc and the response to interferon (IFN) therapy was also studied. Results showed that IgM anti-HBc is a useful marker of the efficacy of interferon therapy.
Nakajima
E
E
3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan.
Tsuji
T
T
Kachi
K
K
Kagawa
K
K
Okanoue
T
T
Takino
T
T
Yamada
A
A
Imanishi
J
J
D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000502:physiology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D014779:Virus Replication
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D007370:Interferon Type I