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Published in: Archives of Virology 2/2010

01-02-2010 | Brief Review

The underlying mechanisms for the ‘anti-HBc alone’ serological profile

Authors: R. A. A. Pondé, D. D. P. Cardoso, M. O. Ferro

Published in: Archives of Virology | Issue 2/2010

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Abstract

The serological pattern, “anti-HBc alone”, characterized by the presence of antibodies against the core antigen of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc) as the only marker of hepatitis B, is not rare in a diagnostic setting. Depending on the prevalence of HBV infection and the patient group investigated, 1–31% of positive anti-HBc results are isolated positive findings. Anti-HBc alone is frequently observed in intravenous drug addicts, HIV-infected individuals, patients who are coinfected with HBV and hepatitis C virus, and pregnant women. However, it is not clear how this profile should be interpreted. Several studies have shown that anti-HBc alone is not only compatible with acute and resolved HBV infection but also with chronic infection. The reasons for the lack of HBsAg and anti-HBs in anti-HBc-alone individuals are not clear, but several mechanisms and possibilities have been suggested that could explain this phenomenon, some of which are delineated in this article.
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Metadata
Title
The underlying mechanisms for the ‘anti-HBc alone’ serological profile
Authors
R. A. A. Pondé
D. D. P. Cardoso
M. O. Ferro
Publication date
01-02-2010
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
Archives of Virology / Issue 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0304-8608
Electronic ISSN: 1432-8798
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-009-0559-6

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