title: Semiquantitative anti-HBc IgM detection in children with chronic hepatitis B: a long-term follow-up study.
abstract: Serum anti-HBc IgM titres were monitored monthly by a semiquantitative method in 14 children with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B followed up for 18-65 months. All patients, but one, were treated with alfa-interferon (IFN) at different times. On the whole, 12 flare-up episodes were observed and 7 patients cleared HBV-DNA and seroconverted to anti-HBe. Seroconversion occurred only in patients with pretreatment anti-HBc IgM index greater than 0.15 and serum HBV-DNA concentration below 100 pg/ml; the pretreatment alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value was not predictive of response. Combining anti-HBc IgM results and serum HBV-DNA levels observed during the pre-IFN period allowed a precise identification of patients who were likely to respond to IFN therapy. Patients who seroconverted to anti-HBe showed a progressive reduction in serum anti-HBc IgM titres within 6 months. Interestingly, one child, in whom HBV-DNA reappeared and who reconverted to HBeAg 7 months after treatment, showed no anti-HBc IgM decrease after the transient clearance of HBV-DNA and anti-HBe seroconversion. Semiquantitative anti-HBc IgM detection is a useful tool in the decision making process for children with chronic hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Malattie Infettive, II Universita, Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nardiello
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pizzella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maisto
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sardaro
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Galanti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giusti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000410:Alanine Transaminase