Impaired response to HBcAg in a hepatitis B virus carrier

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers usually produce antibody to HB core antigen (anti-HBc). We present the case of an HBV carrier who has lacked anti-HBc for a 2-year observation period. Antibody titers against several common viruses (herpes simplex virus-1, varizella-zoster virus and Epstein-Barr virus) were detected in his serum. His lymphocytes proliferated in vitro in response to phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A. In contrast to other naturally immune or chronic HBV carriers, anti-HBc was not produced by his peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) in culture supernatant of pokeweed mitogen-induced anti-HBc production system. These results suggested that he was in a state of impaired specific antibody response to HB core antigen (HBcAg).