TRANSIENT ANTIBODIES TO DNA-POLYMERASE IN ACUTE HEPATITIS-B AND RELATED DISEASES

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 25  (6) , 209-211
Abstract
Sera from patients with acute hepatitis, cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis, and from healthy carriers and controls were examined for HBs [hepatitis B surface] antigen, DNA polymerase activity and for antibodies to HBs, HBc [HB core] and DNA polymerase. The data suggest that in acute hepatitis the DNA polymerase test enabled the diagnosis of at least 20% more cases of hepatitis B than with the RIA [radioimmunoassay], but that the DNA polymerase test is of little value for the screening of blood donors since all the healthy carriers gave negative results. Antibodies to DNA polymerase appeared in at least 50% of the patients with acute hepatitis; they were transient and only detectable at the early beginning of the disease. These antibodies were different from the anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibodies.

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