Abstract
Antibody (anti-pol antibody) against the polymerase gene product of hepatitis B virus (HBV) was determined in HBV infection by solid-phase enzyme immunoassay using synthetic peptides corresponding to the protein coded for by this gene. In acute hepatitis B, anti-pol antibody was detected early in the course in 2 out of 3 patients. In chronic HBV infection, anti-pol antibody was detected more frequently in chronic active hepatitis (17/29, 59%), liver cirrhotics (23/33, 70%) and cirrhotics complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (18/24, 75%) than asymptomatic carriers (4/19, 21%) and chronic inactive hepatitis (2/7, 29%). Furthermore, titers of anti-pol antibody were higher in liver cirrhotics with and without hepatocellular carcinoma than in chronic active hepatitis. These results indicate that anti-pol antibody is induced in chronic HBV infection as well as acute hepatitis B, and in relation to the progression of liver disease.
