Virus‐specific antibody titres in different phases of hepatitis C virus infection

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Abstract
Summary. This study aimed to examine anti hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody titres, their changes and differences in acute, chronic and past HCV infection and to examine them after IFN‐α‐therapy. Ninety five patients were studied in a cross‐sectional investigation and 18 of them were followed long‐term. Titres of IgM and IgG antibodies against core, NS3, NS4 (A + B), NS5A proteins were determined by the third generation enzyme immunoassays. Patients with acute hepatitis C developed IgG antibodies against core protein in titres 1/5–1/800 and against individual NS proteins at the same titres. During the first to second month of acute hepatitis C IgG antibody titres to HCV proteins were very low, but they had risen considerably by the fourth to sixth month. Anti‐HCV IgM antibodies were found in half the acute hepatitis serum samples, titres were 1/5–1/40. Sixty individuals with chronic hepatitis C showed IgG antibodies against core in titres 1/800–1/40000 and against individual NS proteins in titres 1/5–1/20000. Eight patients with chronic hepatitis C had invariable anti‐HCV IgG antibodies over 2–3 years. About 81.7% of chronically infected patients had anti‐HCV IgM antibodies in titres 1/5–1/160. Patients with resolution of HCV infection showed only anti‐core IgG antibodies (titres 1/5–1/200) or no virus‐specific antibodies. Individuals with different response to IFN‐α‐therapy showed two distinct patterns of anti‐HCV antibody titres. Acute and chronic HCV infection may be distinguished by anti‐core titres.

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