Antibodies. to Hepatitis B Core Antigen in Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive and -Negative Chronic Hepatitis

Abstract

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HB_c) is a sensitive indicator of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, anti-HB_c has been found in only a few patients with chronic hepatitis. Therefore, we tested for anti-HB_c in 124 sera from 67 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique. All patients, except for one with chronic hepatitis who was seropositive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HB_s Ag), had anti-HB_c that persisted throughout the follow-up period (three months to three years). Of 33 HB_s Ag-seronegative patients, anti-HB_c was detected in seven patients and persisted for six months to two years. These findings suggest that in this study 21% of patients with chronic hepatitis with undetectable amounts of HB_s Ag in the serum had evidence of recent or continued HBV replication.