Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) as a marker of interferon therapy in patients with persistent hepatitis B virus infection |
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| Authors: | E Nakajima T Tsuji K Kachi K Kagawa T Okanoue T Takino A Yamada J Imanishi |
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| Affiliation: | 3rd Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan. |
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| Abstract: | Immunoglobulin M antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (IgM anti-HBc) was measured by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 96 HBV carriers. IgM anti-HBc was detected in 17 of 66 patients with chronic active hepatitis and in 4 of 11 with liver cirrhosis. This antibody was not present in asymptomatic carriers or in patients with chronic persistent hepatitis. Testing of sequential samples revealed that the presence of IgM anti-HBc indicated active replication of HBV and at the same time an immune response to the virus. The relationship between IgM anti-HBc and the response to interferon (IFN) therapy was also studied. Results showed that IgM anti-HBc is a useful marker of the efficacy of interferon therapy. |
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