title: Role of IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen in the diagnosis of hepatitis B exacerbations.
abstract: IgM anti-HBc levels were measured by the IMx Core-M Abbott assay in 939 serum samples in order to define a specific and sensitive cut-off value for diagnosis of chronic hepatitis B. The sera used were obtained from 52 chronic HBV patients and 10 HBV carriers with HCV or HDV co-infections and 155 asymptomatic subjects without evidence of liver disease. A Youden index value of 95.4% with 98% sensitivity and 97.4% specificity was obtained for an IMx Index value of 0.204 as cut-off. A one-year follow-up study with monthly tests has shown that quantitative analysis of IgM anti-HBc can serve as a noninvasive tool for monitoring HBV infection, and provides an accurate diagnosis of hepatitis B exacerbations. Significant elevations of IgM anti-HBc levels were associated with hepatitis B exacerbations in 96.2% of the cases but with none of the ALT flare-ups observed in HCV or HDV infected individuals. These results suggest that quantitative analysis of IgM anti-HBc provides the highest degree of confidence in definition of spontaneous and therapy-induced exacerbations or remissions of hepatitis B.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Bolognini Hospital, Seriate, Bergamo, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colloredo Mels
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leandro
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Brunetto
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vicari
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piantino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borzio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ideo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D002353:Carrier State; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D000410:Alanine Transaminase