IgG and IgM core antibodies and viral replication in hepatitis C virus carriers.
We studied IgG and IgM antibodies to hepatitis C virus core protein (anti-HCVcore) in relation to serum virus RNA levels in 71 hepatitis C virus carriers. Viremic levels ranged from 10(4)-10(9) copies/ml and were high in 34 chronic active hepatitis patients compared with 17 asymptomatic carriers and 20 cases of chronic persistent hepatitis (p < 0.01). IgG anti-HCVcore was found in 67/71 (94%), but four asymptomatic carriers with low levels of viremia (10(4)-10(5.5) copies/ml) tested negative. IgM anti-HCVcore was found in patients with high levels of viremia (10(8)-10(9) copies/ml), and one (6%) asymptomatic carrier and nine (26%) chronic active hepatitis patients tested positive. In chronic hepatitis patients, viremic levels were significantly higher in cases positive for IgM anti-HCVcore than in negative ones (p < 0.01). However, no correlation was found between the occurrence of IgM anti-HCVcore and serum aminotransferase levels or the histologic activity index. These findings suggest that although IgG anti-HCVcore is sensitive, low viremic patients can escape this screening, and that the IgM anti-HCVcore is induced in association with high levels of virus replication.
Yuki
N
N
First Department of Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
Hayashi
N
N
Hagiwara
H
H
Naito
M
M
Ohkawa
K
K
Katayama
K
K
Kasahara
A
A
Fusamoto
H
H
Kamada
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001782:Blood Donors; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D014766:Viremia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D014779:Virus Replication
D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D012367:RNA, Viral