HBeAg, anti-HBe and anti-HBc IgM in patients with hepatitis B.

Using radioimmunoassay, 70 consecutive patients with acute type B hepatitis were investigated for the presence of HBeAg and anti-HBe. The results indicate that HBeAg is found constantly in the early phase of acute hepatitis B. The presence of HBeAg for more than 10 weeks after the onset of symptoms seems to be of prognostic value and signifies the development of a chronic HBsAg carrier state. Anti-HBc titres were determined in 40 patients with acute hepatitis B with differing outcomes of their disease. The anti-HBc titres were generally above 1:100 at the time of admission to the hospital and in those patients who remained HBsAg-positive the anti-HBc titres remained about 1:1000 during the 12 month follow-up period. Anti-HBc IgM was constantly present in 42 patients with acute hepatitis B and was found to persist from 7 months to several years in those patients who became chronic HBsAg carriers. Anti-HBc IgM was found to persist for more than 2 years in five of the 12 patients investigated who developed chronic liver disease in spite of an early clearance of HBsAg.