title: Diagnostic significance of antibodies to hepatitis B virus polymerase in acutely and chronically HBV-infected individuals.
abstract: The prevalence and time course of the occurrence of antibodies to the hepatitis B virus polymerase (anti-HBpol) were investigated in acutely and in chronically HBV-infected individuals by using recombinant HBpol protein for Western blot analysis. One group consisted of 19 patients who were acutely infected and recovered completely. Five of these patients (26%, 69 serum samples examined) exhibited anti-HBpol. Among those anti-HBpol positive patients, recovery from the disease was combined with a complete loss of this antibody. In contrast, in a second group of 15 individuals who developed chronic hepatitis B, 13 (87%, 102 serum samples examined) had anti-HBpol during the acute phase of the disease. The difference between the anti-HBpol prevalence rates of the two patient groups is statistically significant (Exact Fisher test, P < .002), implying that the occurrence of anti-HBpol may be indicative of a potential chronic course of hepatitis B. Remarkably, anti-HBpol was found in one case of a clinically suspected hepatitis B in which no other serological HBV parameters were found. This serum sample was positive in HBV PCR, supporting a possible diagnostic value of anti-HBpol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kann
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Köchel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomssen
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase; D001616:beta-Galactosidase