Anti-DNA, anti-HBc correlations with RIA-detected HBeAg and anti-HBe in chronic HBsAg carriers.

The interrelations of 1) antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg)--anti-HBc; 2) single-stranded DNA-binding antibodies (anti-DNA); and 3) the e-antigen/antibody system--hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and antibody (anti-HBe), were studied in 150 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carriers, in 43 of whom diagnostic liver biopsies had been performed. There was a good correlation between titers of anti-HBc and anti-DNA, regarded as indicators of viral and pathological activity, respectively, as well as between levels of these two antibodies and the presence of HBeAg or anti-HBE as detected by radio-immune assay (RIA). In general, HBeAg-positive carriers showed high anti-HBc and high anti-DNA titers, while the carriers positive for anti-HBe had low titers of both. These findings were in accord with the histopathological results. The three serologic parameters, anti-HBc, anti-DNA, and e-antigen/antibody, should together prove useful for the evaluation of the clinical status of chronic HBsAg carriers.