Inadequacy of immunoglobulin M hepatitis B core antibody in detecting acute hepatitis B virus infection in infants of HBsAg carrier mothers.
To study the usefulness of IgM hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc IgM) for detecting hepatitis B virus infections in infants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier mothers, serial serum samples from 86 infants of carrier mothers were tested for anti-HBc IgM with a highly specific enzyme immunoassay. Asymptomatic hepatitis B infection occurred frequently in infants under 12 mo of age. Anti-HBc IgM never became positive in 25 infants infected under 9 mo old. It was positive in only 1 of 6 infected at 9 mo and 4 of 13 infected at 12 mo of age. The IgM antibody lasted for less than 6 mo. Although the infection was delayed in 28 infants receiving hepatitis B immune globulin, the poor anti-HBc IgM response did not seem to be due to the immune prophylaxis. Our study clearly indicates the limitation of anti-HBc IgM for detecting acute hepatitis B infection in infants born to HBsAg carrier mothers.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000635:transmission; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D013624:Taiwan
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M