Presence of low levels of anti-HBs antibody in so-

liver411

      Liver 21 (6), 380-383

      ?Munksgaard 2001



      Presence of low levels of anti-HBs antibody in so-called 'anti-HBc

alone' subjects

      Gilbert Greub and Philippe C. Frei



      Division d'Immunologie et d'Allergie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire

Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland



      Abstract: 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.





---------------------------------------

Sheree Martin mailto:[email protected]



_______________________________________________________________

A blank message to these addresses performs the following -

  [email protected] gets you on the list.

  [email protected] gets you off the list.

  [email protected] toggles you to/from the fancy digest version.

  [email protected] toggles you to/from the vacation list.

  [email protected] posts your message to the list.