[Detection of serum anti-F antibody in hepatitis C virus infected patients].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of serum anti-F in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the distribution of anti-F.


METHODS
The recombinant protein (HCV-F/GST) was coated onto micro titer plates as antigen. Sera of 120 patients with hepatitis C virus infection, 15 patients with hepatitis B, 3 patients with hepatitis E and 10 normal sera were tested by indirect ELISA for detecting anti-F.


RESULTS
82 samples out of the 120 (68%) HCV infected patients exhibited a positive anti-F reaction, showing significant difference from the controls with no HCV infection (P < 0.01). Data from logistic analysis showed that the positive rate of anti-F was higher in patients over 50 year olds (OR = 6.675, 95% CI: 2.407-19.071). Patients of midrange, severe phase and hepatic cirrhosis had higher rate than the others (OR = 2.749, 95% CI: 1.470-5.141).


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence and distribution of anti-F in Yixing hepatitis C patients was reported and which might be related to the progression of HCV infection.
Deng
Xiao-zhao
XZ
Medicial Institute of Nanjing Amry, Nanjing 210002, China.
Jiang
Churn-mei
CM
Xu
Ke
K
Wang
Zhong-can
ZC
Ding
Wei-liang
WL
Yu
Rong-bin
RB
Wang
Jie
J
Wu
Chao
C
Zhang
Yun
Y
D000328:Adult; D002681:China; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000276:immunology*; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018936:Hepatitis C Antigens; D014758:Viral Core Proteins; C433031:hepatitis C protein F, Hepatitis C virus