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The underlying mechanisms for the ‘anti-HBc alone’ serological profile

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Abstract

The serological pattern, “anti-HBc alone”, characterized by the presence of antibodies against the core antigen of hepatitis B virus (anti-HBc) as the only marker of hepatitis B, is not rare in a diagnostic setting. Depending on the prevalence of HBV infection and the patient group investigated, 1–31% of positive anti-HBc results are isolated positive findings. Anti-HBc alone is frequently observed in intravenous drug addicts, HIV-infected individuals, patients who are coinfected with HBV and hepatitis C virus, and pregnant women. However, it is not clear how this profile should be interpreted. Several studies have shown that anti-HBc alone is not only compatible with acute and resolved HBV infection but also with chronic infection. The reasons for the lack of HBsAg and anti-HBs in anti-HBc-alone individuals are not clear, but several mechanisms and possibilities have been suggested that could explain this phenomenon, some of which are delineated in this article.

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  1. Laboratório de Virologia Humana, Instituto de Patologia Tropical e Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil

    R. A. A. Pondé & D. D. P. Cardoso

  2. Central Goiana de Sorologia, Imuno-hematologia e Biologia Molecular, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil

    R. A. A. Pondé

  3. Hospital Materno Infantil, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil

    R. A. A. Pondé

  4. Rua 7A Edifício RIOL, Nº 158, 1º andar, sala 101, setor aeroporto, Goiânia-Goiás, CEP:74-075-030, Brazil

    R. A. A. Pondé

  5. Laboratório Saúde, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil

    M. O. Ferro

  6. Laboratório Jardim América, Goiânia-Goiás, Brazil

    M. O. Ferro

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Pondé, R.A.A., Cardoso, D.D.P. & Ferro, M.O. The underlying mechanisms for the ‘anti-HBc alone’ serological profile. Arch Virol 155, 149–158 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-009-0559-6

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