Journal article
Presence of low levels of anti-HBs antibody in so-called 'anti-HBc alone' subjects.
- 2002-03-21
Published in:
- Liver. - 2001
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Epitopes
Female
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B Antibodies
Hepatitis B Core Antigens
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
Hepatitis B virus
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Male
Middle Aged
English
BACKGROUND/AIMS
The 'anti-Hbc alone' pattern could sometimes be that of subjects who produced anti-HBs after recovery, but at a lower level than that detectable using commercial assays. This study aimed to test this hypothesis.
METHODS
A total of 104 'anti-HBc alone' serum samples, i.e.positive for the anti-HBc antibody but not for HBsAg nor for anti-HBs antibody, were recruited when routine testing a broad population of employees, patients and pregnant women from a university hospital. A possible subliminal anti-HBs production, that would have escaped detection by commercial EIAs, was investigated by comparing the optical densities (ODs) obtained in vaccinees (commercial anti-HBs EIA) to those of a control group of 100 nonimmunised and nonvaccinated subjects.
RESULTS
The median OD was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in the 'anti-HBc alone' subjects (OD=0.035) than in the controls (OD=0.023). Thirty-six percent of the 'anti-HBc alone' subjects had an anti-HBs OD higher than the median OD of the controls+2SD. 'Anti-HBc alone' subjects with anti-HBe antibody had higher anti-HBs ODs (0.041) than had those without anti-HBe (0.029). In 'anti-HBc alone' subjects, the anti-HBs ODs, although under the cut-off value of the EIA, were found to be higher than in the controls.
CONCLUSION
Our results show low anti-HBs production in some of the subjects studied.
The 'anti-Hbc alone' pattern could sometimes be that of subjects who produced anti-HBs after recovery, but at a lower level than that detectable using commercial assays. This study aimed to test this hypothesis.
METHODS
A total of 104 'anti-HBc alone' serum samples, i.e.positive for the anti-HBc antibody but not for HBsAg nor for anti-HBs antibody, were recruited when routine testing a broad population of employees, patients and pregnant women from a university hospital. A possible subliminal anti-HBs production, that would have escaped detection by commercial EIAs, was investigated by comparing the optical densities (ODs) obtained in vaccinees (commercial anti-HBs EIA) to those of a control group of 100 nonimmunised and nonvaccinated subjects.
RESULTS
The median OD was significantly higher (p<0.0001) in the 'anti-HBc alone' subjects (OD=0.035) than in the controls (OD=0.023). Thirty-six percent of the 'anti-HBc alone' subjects had an anti-HBs OD higher than the median OD of the controls+2SD. 'Anti-HBc alone' subjects with anti-HBe antibody had higher anti-HBs ODs (0.041) than had those without anti-HBe (0.029). In 'anti-HBc alone' subjects, the anti-HBs ODs, although under the cut-off value of the EIA, were found to be higher than in the controls.
CONCLUSION
Our results show low anti-HBs production in some of the subjects studied.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- closed
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1034/j.1600-0676.2001.210603.x
- PMID 11903881
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/124080
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