IMMUNOGLOBULIN-M AND IMMUNOGLOBULIN-A ANTIBODIES TO HEPATITIS-C CORE ANTIGEN IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTION

To determine the prevalence and clinical significance of IgM and IgA a ntibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) core antigen in chronic HCV infecti on, sera from 47 patients were tested for immunoglobulin class M (IgM) and immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody to HCV core antigen by solid-phas e enzyme-linked immunoassay using a recombinant core protein (aa1-150) . Results were correlated with the clinical, biochemical and histologi cal parameters, serum HCV RNA levels (determined by branched DNA signa l amplification assay), and subsequent clinical response to interferon -cr therapy. IgM anti-HCV core was detected in 11 patients (23.4 perce nt). There was no correlation between the presence of IgM anti-HCV cor e and the clinical features (sex, age, mode of acquisition), biochemic al parameters (serum ALT, AST, alkaline phosphatase, and albumin level ), autoimmune markers [serum globulin levels, anti-nuclear antibody ( at: <1:80 in 7/47 patients)], serum HCV RNA levels, subsequent respon se to interferon-a therapy, and the histological features. Immunoglobu lin A anti-HCV core was not detected in any of the patients. The prese nce of IgM ant-HCV core in a proportion of patients with chronic HCV i nfection indicates that the presence of serum IgM anti-HCV core may no t be unique to acute HCV infection. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.