title: [Anti-HBc IgM in acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection].
abstract: Hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) synthesized in E. coli was used for determination of immunoglobulin M class-specific antibodies against HBcAg. It was found that 98% of cases with acute hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive hepatitis type B were anti-HBc immunoglobulin M (IgM) positive. Atypical hepatitis B was detected in 33% of anti-HBc-positive HBsAg-negative cases with acute hepatitis. Anti-HBc IgM was positive for 6 months in acute resolving hepatitis type B, whereas cases resulting in chronic hepatitis B remained anti-HBc IgM-positive for up to 900 days. Chronic HBsAg carriers with severe liver disease had anti-HBc IgM more often than individuals with minor liver damage; 83% of HBsAg-positive liver cirrhoses, 63% of chronic aggressive hepatitis, 50% of HBsAg-positive liver carcinoma, but only 17% of chronic persistent hepatitis or 7% of healthy blood donors were anti-HBc IgM-positive. Determination of anti-HBc IgM is useful in detecting atypical hepatitis B virus infections without HBsAg in serum and, with some restrictions, in discriminating acute and chronic hepatitis type B.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
vernacular_title: Anti-HBc IgM bei akuter und chronischer Hepatitis-B-Virus-Infektion.