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Background/Aims: We examined the persistence of HBV-DNA in sera collected 4- 10 years after IFN-αtherapy from patients with chronic hepatitis B who had ser oconverted to anti-HBs antibodies. We also wanted to assess whether any associa tion exists between HBV-DNA status and the IgG anti-HBs subclass responses. Me thods: Sera were obtained from 38 patients and the following parameters were det ermined in each of them: (1) serological markers of HBV; (2) concentrations of I gM, IgG, IgA; (3) total IgG subclasses. HBV-DNA and IgG anti-HBs subclasses we re determined in anti-HBs positive sera.Results: Four to 10 years after therapy , anti-HBs were found in 37 of 38 patients (GMT: 775 IU/L). In 13 of them (35.1 %) free and/or bound HBV-DNA was present in sera. Significant differences in t he profiles of IgG anti-HBswere observed when the HBV-DNA status was considered. Patients with undetectable HBV-DNA responded mainly with IgG1 and/or IgG3, while in the HBV-DNA-positive group, a high contribution of IgG4 was found. Conclusions: Our study showed that HBV-DNA may persist for a long t ime after IFN-αtherapy despite the appearance of anti-HBs antibodies. The mon itoring of specific IgG subclasses may be of predictive value for HBV-DNA persi stence.
Background / Aims: We examined the persistence of HBV-DNA in sera collected 4- 10 years after IFN-α therapy from patients with chronic hepatitis B who had ser oconverted to anti-HBs antibodies. We also wanted to assess whether any associ- ation exists between HBV-DNA status and the IgG anti-HBs subclass responses. Me thods: Sera were obtained from 38 patients and the following parameters were detmined in each of them: (1) serological markers of HBV; (2) concentrations of I gM, IgG and IgA; (3) total IgG subclasses. HBV-DNA and IgG anti-HBs subclasses we re determined in anti-HBs positive sera. Results: Four to 10 years after therapy, anti-HBs were found in 37 of 38 patients Significant differences in t he profiles of IgG anti-HBswere observed when the HBV-DNA status was considered. Patients with undetectable HBV-DNA positive mainly with IgG1 and / or IgG3, while in the HBV-DNA-positive group, a high cont ribution of IgG4 was found. Conclusions: Our study showed that HBV-DNA may persist for a long t ime after IFN-αtherapy despite the appearance of anti-HBs antibodies. The mon itoring of specific IgG subclasses may be predictive value for HBV- DNA persi stence.