Use of immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in diagnosis of viral hepatitis.
To determine the diagnostic value of hepatitis B core (HBc)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibody (anti-HBc IgM), the sera of six patients with known recent acute viral hepatitis B were examined for the presence of anti-HBc periodically for up to 21 months from the onset of the attack by a sensitive radioimmunoassay technique (CORAB, Abbott Laboratories). It was found that anti-HBc IgM was detectable for approximately 17 months from the onset of the illness. Hence the finding of anti-HBc IgM suggests infection by hepatitis B virus, probably within the preceding 1 to 2 years. A high level of anti-HBc IgM in the acute-phase serum of an individual with viral hepatitis is indicative of recent hepatitis B virus etiology; one patient, however, showed a low titer of anti-HBc IgM in the acute-phase serum sample, which remained virtually unchanged 15 months from onset. The diagnostic use of this serologaical marker is illustrated in 25 patients with viral hepatitis, in whose acute-phase sera anti-HBc was found.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M