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Diagnostic usefulness of testing for anti‐HBc IgM in acute hepatitis B
Author(s) -
Lindsay Karen L.,
Nizze J. Anne,
Koretz Ronald,
Gitnick Gary
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840060617
Subject(s) - medicine , virology , immunology , gastroenterology
Abstract Numerous tests to detect anti‐HBc IgM have been developed and shown to have different degrees of sensitivity and specificity. One of these assays, Corzyme®‐M (Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill.), recently became commercially available. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the clinical utility of this anti‐HBc IgM test in establishing the diagnosis of acute hepatitis B using sera from a group of 42 prospectively followed individuals who had been exposed to hepatitis B virus. The Corzyme®‐M test was highly sensitive in detecting recent hepatitis B virus infection. All 30 patients with symptomatic and 12 with asymptomatic acute hepatitis B virus infection developed anti‐HBc IgM. However, the timing of sample testing relative to onset of symptoms in symptomatic patients was important, inasmuch as 2 of 23 patients were negative for anti‐HBc IgM early in the symptomatic period, although all were HBsAg positive. The duration of anti‐HBc IgM positivity after acute infection was variable, ranging from 2 to 134 weeks. In 14% of patients, anti‐HBc IgM remained detectable for more than 1 year. From the data, recommendations are given regarding the usefulness of anti‐HBc IgM testing in the diagnosis of acute hepatitis B virus infection.