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Antibodies to single stranded DNA: a diagnostic aid in chronic hepatitis B virus infections
Insights
High antibody to single-stranded DNA (anti-DNA) titers indicate chronic hepatitis B virus infection, even when other markers are normal. This finding aids in diagnosing liver disease status in HBsAg carriers.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Virology
Background:
- Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects millions globally.
- Persistent Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) indicates chronic infection.
- Accurate assessment of disease status is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the diagnostic utility of anti-single-stranded DNA (anti-DNA) antibody titers in chronic HBV infection.
- To correlate anti-DNA titers with histopathological and biochemical markers of liver disease.
Main Methods:
- Serial measurements of anti-DNA antibody titers over three years.
- Analysis of 43 patients with persistent HBsAg, including those with chronic hepatitis and asymptomatic carriers.
- Correlation with histopathological diagnoses and serum alanine transaminase/bilirubin levels.
Main Results:
- Patients with chronic active or persistent hepatitis showed high anti-DNA titers.
- Elevated anti-DNA titers were often the sole positive indicator in patients with fluctuating or normal liver enzymes.
- Asymptomatic carriers without liver changes had normal anti-DNA titers.
Conclusions:
- Anti-DNA antibody determination is a valuable tool for assessing disease status in chronic HBV infections.
- It can supplement existing diagnostic methods, especially when biochemical markers are inconclusive.
- This marker aids in differentiating active liver disease from carrier states.
Abstract:
Serial determinations of titers of binding antibodies to single stranded DNA were performed over a period of three years in 43 type B hepatitis patients with persisting HBsAg who had either developed chronic hepatitis or were asymptomatic carriers. Patients with histopathological diagnosis of chronic active or chronic persistent hepatitis, with or without clinical symptoms, showed high titers of anti-DNA throughout the course of the disease, whereas in most of these patients the serum alanine transaminase and bilirubin levels fluctuated widely and were often normal; in such cases the elevation of anti-DNA was frequently the only positive sign present. On the other hand anti-DNA titers were within the normal range in chronic asymptomatic HBsAg carriers who showed no histopathological or biochemical changes. Anti-DNA determinations are proposed as a reliable diagnostic aid to supplement current procedures for assessment of the disease status during the course of chronic hepatitis B virus infections.