Open AccessPersistence of serum antibody to hepatitis B core antigen
Author(s) -
Bengt Hansson
Publication year - 1977
Publication title -
journal of clinical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.349
H-Index - 255
eISSN - 1070-633X
pISSN - 0095-1137
DOI - 10.1128/jcm.6.3.209-211.1977
Subject(s) - antigen , immunology , virology , medicine , hepatitis b , titer , antibody , hepatitis b virus , population , hepatitis , virus , environmental health
The purpose of the present study was to measure the amount of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) in different populations by the immunoelectroosmophoresis method. High titers of anti-HBc, up to 1/4,096, were found in the acute stage of hepatitis B virus infections and in the chronic carrier state of hepatitis B surface antigen. In cases of acute hepatitis the anti-HBc titers gradually declined to low levels but persisted for the observation time of 5 to 6 years. Individuals positive for antibodies to hepatitis B surface and core antigens selected from a Swedish "normal" population showed still lower anti-HBc titers, indicating that the hepatitis B infection had occurred earlier. The anti-HBc titers in sera drawn at intervals of 4 years from a group of hemophilia patients may indicate previous infection with replicating hepatitis B virus rather than immunization with noninfectious hepatitis B core antigen material.