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Significance of «anti HBC alone» serological profile in 284 patients suspicious of being infected with hepatitis B virus
Annales de Biologie Clinique. Volume 64, Number 5, 451-5, Septembre 2006, Article original
Résumé Article gratuit
Author(s) : L Berrajah-Fki, S Ben Halima, F Guermazi, A Hammami, H Karray-Hakim
Summary : The « anti-HBc alone » serological profile is a frequent finding in hepatitis B virus infections, but little is known about its clinical significance. The aim of this study was to explore the « anti-HBc alone » serological profile obtained by immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 284 patients suspicious of being infected with hepatitis B virus. Sera were screened for following serological markers: HBs Ag, anti-HBc and anti-HBs antibodies using immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and for HBV DNA using polymerase chain reaction. Among 284 studied sera with « anti-HBc alone » serological profile, 124 were positives for anti-HBs antibodies by IRMA and corresponding to a recovered form of hepatitis B. Nineteen sera were negatives for anti-HBc antibodies, suggesting false positive results by ELISA. Two sera were found positives for HBs Ag by IRMA, wich are related to authentic hepatitis B. HBV DNA was positive in 4 sera, suggesting occult hepatitis B. This study indicates that « anti-HBc alone » serological profile is most often correlates with recovered hepatitis B infection, but it can mask an occult hepatitis B.
Keywords : hepatitis B virus, anti-HBc alone profile, IRMA, PCR

Significance of «anti HBC alone» serological profile in 284 patients suspicious of being infected with hepatitis B virus