Clinical Significance of Low Molecular Weight (7-8s) Immunoglobulin M Antibody to Hepatitis B Core Antigen in Chronic Hepatitis B Virus Infections

摘要

Separation of 7-8S and 19S forms of serum immunoglobulin M (IgM) hepatitis B core antibody (antiHBc) by rate-zonal centrifuation was carried out on serum from 80 American chronic carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), all of whom were positive for IgM anti-HBc, and had elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (mean 164 IU/1). Seventy-three of the 80 sera showed a predominance of one or the other form of IgM anti HBc. Fifty-four (68%) had predominantly 7-8S IgM anti-HBc, and 19 (24%) had predominantly 19S IgM anti-HBc.