Viral antibody titres in HBs antigen-positive and -negative chronic active hepatitis

A comparative study of antibody titres to nine common viruses has been carried out in hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen-positive and -negative chronic active liver disease. The results show that increased titres of antibody to morbilli virus by complement fixation and to rubella by haemagglutination inhibition are found in HBs antigen-negative but not in HBs antigen-positive chronic active liver disease. There was a significant association of increased morbilli but not of rubella virus antibody titres with the presence of high-titre nuclear antibodies (ANA) but no association with smooth-muscle antibody or the presence of HLA-B8.