Deeper insight into HBsAg--anti-albumin antibody correlations

The presence and titers of anti-albumin antibodies (AAA)--ie, precipitins (AA-IP) and agglutinins (AA-Aggl)--and the serum concentrations of immunoglobulins and albumin were determined in 210 asymptomatic carriers of HBsAg grouped according to HBsAg titer and subtype. A different immunologic pattern was observed in the HBsAg/ad and HBsAg/ay carriers, the results suggesting an increased aggressivity for the HBsAg/ay subtype which was evident in subjects with lower HBs antigenemia and characterized by higher concentrations of IgG and IgM and rises in AA-P titers. A positive linear correlation was found between HBsAg and AA-Aggl titers; the carriage of HBsAg/ad was associated with significant higher values of AA-Aggl than of HBsAg/ay. These subtle correlations between HBsAg titer and subtype and AAA suggest that the human serum albumin (HSA) known to exist on the HBsAg particles may be similar in a modified form, to that representing AAA specificity.