Measles virus-specific IgM antibodies in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis

The occurrence of measles virus-specific IgM antibodies in sera from patients with chronic active hepatitis not caused by Hepatitis B virus was examined by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Using whole serum, specific IgM antibodies were detected in 12 of 23 sera from patients with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative chronic active hepatitis. In nine of these sera the finding of specific IgM antibodies was verified by separation of IgM by density gradient centrifugation and examination of the fractions by ELISA. Most of the sera from the patients with measles virus-specific IgM antibodies had an elevated level of specific IgG antibodies compared to the level of IgG found in control sera. The significance of these findings in view of a possible persistent measles virus antigen production in patients with chronic active hepatitis is discussed.