Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Παιδιατρική ΛοιμωξιολογίαLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Παπαευαγγέλου Βασιλική, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σιαχανιδου Σουλτάνα, Αναπληρώτρια Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Σπυρίδης Νικόλαος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Αξιολόγηση του ποσοτικού προσδιορισμού των Anti - HBc IgM σε ασθενείς με χρόνια ηπατίτιδα Β
Translated title:
Evaluation of anti - HBC IgM quantification in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Summary:
Introduction:
The semi – quantitative MEIA assays that have previously successfully correlated HBc – anti – IgM index and hepatic flares in CHB patients are no longer available, while currently used chemiluminescence assays are qualitative methods only.
Aim of study:
The evaluation of a quantitative anti – HBc IgM ELISA assay as a tool for monitoring CHB for acute exacerbations.
Methods:
344 CHB patients' sera were tested with a non – automated quantitative ΗBcIgM (DIA.PRO, Italy), ELISA assay. The limit of detection is 5 U / mL (index: 0.500), while samples with values => 12 U / ml (index 1.200) are positive. Index values were checked for correlations with acute exacerbations of CHB and a cutoff value was estimated.
Results:
Overall, 39 / 344 (11.3%) patients had antibody concentrations higher than 5 U / mL.. Index values > 0,500 were correlated with abnormal (> 40 U / L) ALT και AST values (p-value = 0.007 και 0.018 accordingly). When ROC curves for both pairs (index – ALT and index - AST) were used, the AOCs were 0.798 και 0.776. Using the ROC we were able to identify an optimal index cutoff of 0.678 (or 6.8 U / mL) for the detection of chronic hepatitis flair (ALT sensitivity 83.3% - specificity 77.8%, AST sensitivity 82.8% - specificity 75%).
Conclusion:
The quantification of HBc – anti – IgM using an ELISA assay is a useful diagnostic tool for long – term monitoring CHB patients and identifying hepatic flares. We propose the use of an index value of > 0.678 (or 6.8 U / mL) for the detection of disease exacerbation.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
HBc – anti – IgM, Quantitative ELISA, CHB, Exacerbations, Transaminases
