Anti-HCV response in acute hepatitis C (group A) and in acute hepatitis C superimposed on chronic HBsAg carriers (group B)
| Time after onset of illness | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Patients | <1 month | 1–2 months | >6 months |
| Group B1, anti-HBe positive HBsAg carriers; group B2, HBeAg positive HBsAg carriers. | |||
| Data are expressed as number of patients positive for anti-HCV by third generation enzyme immunoassay (number of patients positive for anti-HCV by third generation confirmatory assays). | |||
| ‡Two patients were reactive for anti-core 1 with a rating of 1+ which were read as indeterminate by third generation confirmatory assays. | |||
| Anti-HBe, antibodies against hepatitis B e antigen; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HBeAg, hepatitis B e antigen. | |||
| *p<0.05 versus group A; †p<0.05 versus group B1. | |||
| Group A (n=12) | 10 (10) | 12 (12) | 12 (12) |
| Group B (n=12) | 4 (4)* | 7 (7) | 6 (6) |
| Group B1 (n=7) | 4 (4) | 6 (6) | 6 (6) |
| Group B2 (n=5) | 0 (0‡)* | 1 (1)* | 0 (0)*† |