The clinical significance of qualitative analysis on anti-HBc IgM in hepatitis B during the recovery period

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical significance of anti-HBc IgM in hepatitis B during the recovery period by qualitatively detecting this IgM in patients with HBcAb positive. Methods Anti-HBc IgM was detected by using radioimmunoassay. Results Standardized comparison was applied in statistical analysis. In the infective stage, the positive rate of IgM was higher in non-treatment group than in the pattern group ( 62.9% vs. 44.2% ) while it is lower in treatment group than in the pattern group ( 28.8% vs. 44.2% ). In recovery stage, the positive raate of IgM was higher in non-treatment group but was lower in treatment group than in the pattern group( 12.5% vs. 0.0% vs. 10.4% ). The first detection rate was 83%, the second 27.3%, and the third 17.6% in 88 patients with repeat examination. After treatment, the improvement rate of HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb, and HBcAb was 20.5% and the negative rate of IgM was 69.3%. Conclusions Anti-HBc IgM is positively associated with the prognosis and recovery of hepatitis B; when antiviral agents are effective, IgM rapidly becomes negative. Detection of IgM during treatment can more accurately predict the recovery and prognosis of hepatitis B. Key words: Hepatitis B; Anti-HBc; Anti-HBc IgM; Recovery