title: Immunoglobulin M and A antibodies to hepatitis C core antigen in chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of IgM and IgA antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen in chronic HCV infection, sera from 47 patients were tested for immunoglobulin class M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to HCV core antigen by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunoassay using a recombinant core protein (aa1-150). Results were correlated with the clinical, biochemical and histological parameters, serum HCV RNA levels (determined by branched DNA signal amplification assay), and subsequent clinical response to interferon-alpha therapy. IgM anti-HCV core was detected in 11 patients (23.4 percent). There was no correlation between the presence of IgM anti-HCV core and the clinical features (sex, age, mode of acquisition), biochemical parameters (serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin level), autoimmune markers [serum globulin levels, anti-nuclear antibody (+ at < 1:80 in 7/47 patients)], serum HCV RNA levels, subsequent response to interferon-alpha therapy, and the histological features. Immunoglobulin A anti-HCV core was not detected in any of the patients. The presence of IgM ant-HCV core in a proportion of patients with chronic HCV infection indicates that the presence of serum IgM anti-HCV core may not be unique to acute HCV infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lesniewski
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D014758:Viral Core Proteins