[Serologic analysis of HBc antigen in patients with HBs-antigen carrier state].

Treatment of serum with sodium thiocyanate in HBs antigen carrier patients leads to liberation of circulating HBc antigen which can be demonstrated radioimmunologically. Investigations were done in 54 HBs antigen carriers, 44 of whom had chronic inflammatory liver disease (22 patients each HBe antigen positive and negative), and in 10 patients who were asymptomatic (so-called healthy HBs antigen carriers). Out of the 22 HBe antigen positive patients 17 were HBc antigen positive serologically. In the HBe antigen negative group of HBs antigen carriers two out of 22 patients with HBc antigen in serum were detected. All 10 asymptomatic HBs antigen carriers were HBc antigen negative. In 11 out of the 40 immunohistologically assessed patients HBc antigen could be demonstrated in hepatocellular nuclei; these 11 patients also demonstrated HBc antigen in serum. The liberated HBc antigen was associated with Dane particles in the density gradient. Serologic demonstration of HBc antigen may thus be considered as direct evidence of presence of hepatitis B virus.