Ardito D, Bianco T, Demundo T, Loiodice L
Minerva Med. 1980 Oct 13;71(39):2815-20.
We studied hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), surface antibody (HBsAb) and "core" antibody (HBcAb) prevalence in 166 among hospital personell and patients with and without liver disease. Results show there is a very high prevalence of hepatitis B virus markers in such populations and the presence of HBcAb in absence of the other markers varies from 6% in "high risk" subjects to 30.3% in cirrhotic patients. We conclude that HBcAb seems to be, at moment, the most sensitive serological marker either for epidemiological studies or diagnosis and, in some instances, for prognosis of hepatitis B virus liver diseases.