Hepatitis B core antigen was measured in sera of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection by a modified radioimmunoassay based on high molarity treatment of samples to avoid masking of antigen by homologous antibody. A good correlation between hepatitis B core antigen levels and serum HBV-DNA was observed in sera obtained during chronic infection. In contrast, acute phase sera were often HBcAg positive but HBV-DNA negative, particularly when obtained during maximum liver damage. Sequential studies in 5 patients with acute hepatitis B showed that HBcAg positivity persisted beside HBV-DNA clearance and was often enhanced at the time of maximum liver damage, suggesting release of antigen from infected hepatocytes undergoing immunolysis, even after termination of virus replication.
HEPATITIS B CORE ANTIGEN IN SERUM DURING ACUTE HEPATITIS
CHEMELLO, LILIANA;PONTISSO, PATRIZIA;ALBERTI, ALFREDO
1988
Abstract
Hepatitis B core antigen was measured in sera of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B virus infection by a modified radioimmunoassay based on high molarity treatment of samples to avoid masking of antigen by homologous antibody. A good correlation between hepatitis B core antigen levels and serum HBV-DNA was observed in sera obtained during chronic infection. In contrast, acute phase sera were often HBcAg positive but HBV-DNA negative, particularly when obtained during maximum liver damage. Sequential studies in 5 patients with acute hepatitis B showed that HBcAg positivity persisted beside HBV-DNA clearance and was often enhanced at the time of maximum liver damage, suggesting release of antigen from infected hepatocytes undergoing immunolysis, even after termination of virus replication.
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