Deeper insight into HBsAg — anti‐albumin antibody correlations

The presence and titers of anti‐albumin antibodies (AAA) — ie, precipitins (AA‐IP) and agglutinins (AA‐Aggl) — and the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and albumin were determined in 210 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg grouped according to HBsAg titer and subtype. A different immunologic pattern was observed in the HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay carriers, the results suggesting an increased aggressivity for the HBsAg/ay subtype which was more evident in subjects with lower HBs antigenemia and characterized by higher concentrations of IgG and IgM and rises in AA‐P titers. A positive linear correlation was found between HBsAg and AA‐Aggl titers; the carriage of HBsAg/ad was associated with significant higher values of AA‐Aggl than of HBsAg/ay. These subtle correlations between HBsAg titer and subtype and AAA suggest that the human serum albumin (HSA) known to exist on the HBsAg particles may be similar in a modified form, to that representing AAA specificity.