LACK OF MONOMERIC IGM ANTI-HEPATITIS-C VIRUS (HCV) CORE ANTIBODIES INPATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HCV INFECTION

Antibodies of the IgM class against the hepatitis C virus core antigen are found in up to 70% of patients with either acute or chronic hepat itis C. The sedimentation rate of such IgM was analyzed by rate-zonal centrifugation of nine sera taken from seven patients, two acutely and five persistently infected with hepatitis C virus. All patients had c irculating high-molecular weight (i.e. pentameric) IgM, indicating tha t the production of low molecular weight IgM, commonly observed in oth er persistent viral infections, does not apply to hepatitis C virus an d cannot be used to distinguish acute from chronic hepatitis C virus i nfection.