In 2008,the European Association for the study of the liver(EASL) defined occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) as the"presence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in the liver(with detectable or undetectable HBV DN...In 2008,the European Association for the study of the liver(EASL) defined occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) as the"presence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in the liver(with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals testing hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) negative by currently available assays".Several aspects of occult HBV infection are still poorly understood,including the definition itself and a standardized approach for laboratory-based detection,which is the purpose of this review.The clinical significance of OBI has not yet been established;however,in terms of public health,the clinical importance arises from the risk of HBV transmission.Consequently,it is important to detect high-risk groups for occult HBV infection to prevent transmission.The main issue is,perhaps,to identify the target population for screening OBI.Viremia is very low or undetectable in occult HBV infection,even when the most sensitive methods are used,and the detection of the viral DNA reservoir in hepatocytes would provide the best evaluation of occult HBV prevalence in a defined set of patients.However,this diagnostic approach is obviously unsuitable:blood detection of occult hepatitis B requires assays of the highest sensitivity and specificity with a lower limit of detection<10 IU/mL for HBV DNA and<0.1 ng/mL for HBsAg.展开更多
Occult hepatitis B infection(OBI) is characterized by hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) presenting HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive serological patterns.Occul...Occult hepatitis B infection(OBI) is characterized by hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) presenting HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive serological patterns.Occult HBV status is associated in some cases with mutant viruses undetectable by HBsAg assays;but more frequently it is due to a strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression.OBI is an entity with world-wide diffusion.The failure to detect HBsAg,despite the persistence of the viral DNA,is due in most cases to the strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression that characterizes this"occult"HBV infection;although the mechanisms responsible for suppression of HBV are not well understood.The majority of OBI cases are secondary to overt HBV infection and represent a residual low viremia level suppressed by a strong immune response together with histological derangements which occurred during acute or chronic HBV infection.Much evidence suggests that it can favour the progression of liver fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.展开更多
Occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) is characterized by the persistence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue in individuals negative for the HBV surface antigen.The prevalence of OBI is quite variable depending on ...Occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) is characterized by the persistence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue in individuals negative for the HBV surface antigen.The prevalence of OBI is quite variable depending on the level of endemic disease in different parts of the world,the different assays utilized in the studies,and the different populations studied.Many studies have been carried out on OBI prevalence in different areas of the world and categories of individuals.The studies show that OBI prevalence seems to be higher among subjects at high risk for HBV infection and with liver disease than among individuals at low risk of infection and without liver disease.展开更多
AIM:To identify blood donors with occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) to promote safe blood donation.METHODS:Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 3167 blood donors negative for hepatitis B surfa...AIM:To identify blood donors with occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) to promote safe blood donation.METHODS:Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 3167 blood donors negative for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg),hepatitis C antibody(HCV Ab) and human immunodeficiency virus Ab.They were subjected to the detection of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST) and screening for anti-HBV core antibodies(total) by two different techniques;[Monoliza antibodies to hepatitis B core(Anti-HBc) Plus-Bio-Rad] and(ARC-HBc total-ABBOT).Positive samples were subjected to quantitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis B surface(anti-HBs)(ETI-AB-AUK-3,Dia Sorin-Italy).Serum anti-HBs titers > 10 IU/L was considered positive.Quantitative HBV DNA by real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)(QIAGEN-Germany) with 3.8 IU/mL detection limit was estimated for blood units with negative serum anti-HBs and also for 32 whose anti-HBs serum titers were > 1000 IU/L.Also,265 recipients were included,34 of whom were followed up for 3-6 mo.Recipients were investigated for ALT and AST,HBV serological markers:HBsAg(ETI-MAK-4,Dia Sorin-Italy),anti-HBc,quantitative detection of anti-HBs and HBV-DNA.RESULTS:525/3167(16.6%) of blood units were positive for total anti-HBc,64% of those were antiHBs positive.Confirmation by ARCHITECT anti-HBc assay were carried out for 498/525 anti-HBc positive samples,where 451(90.6%) confirmed positive.Reactivity for anti-HBc was considered confirmed only if two positive results were obtained for each sample,giving an overall prevalence of 451/3167(14.2%) for total anti-HBc.HBV DNA was quantified by real time PCR in 52/303(17.2%) of anti-HBc positive blood donors(viral load range:5 to 3.5 x 105 IU/mL) with a median of 200 IU/mL(mean:1.8 x 104 ± 5.1 x 104 IU/mL).AntiHBc was the only marker in 68.6% of donors.Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis for identifying risk factors associated with anti-HBc and HBV-DNA positivity among blood donors showed that age above thirty and marriage were the most significant risk factors for prediction of anti-HBc positivity with AOR 1.8(1.4-2.4) and 1.4(1.0-1.9) respectively.Other risk factors as gender,history of blood transfusion,diabetes mellitus,frequent injections,tattooing,previous surgery,hospitalization,Bilharziasis or positive family history of HBV or HCV infections were not found to be associated with positive anti-HBc antibodies.Among anti-HBc positive blood donors,age below thirty was the most significant risk factor for prediction of HBV-DNA positivity with AOR 3.8(1.8-7.9).According to HBV-DNA concentration,positive samples were divided in two groups;group one with HBV-DNA ≥ 200 IU/mL(n = 27) and group two with HBV-DNA < 200 IU/mL(n = 26).No significant difference was detected between both groups as regards mean age,gender,liver enzymes or HBV markers.Serological profiles of all followed up blood recipients showed that,all were negative for the studied HBV markers.Also,HBV DNA was not detected among studied recipients,none developed post-transfusion hepatitis(PTH) and the clinical outcome was good.CONCLUSION:OBI is prevalent among blood donors.Nucleic acid amplification/HBV anti core screening should be considered for high risk recipients to eliminate risk of unsafe blood donation.展开更多
One thousand, five hundred and seventy six pregnant women were followed upprospectively from early pregnancy to investigate the relation or Anti-HBs and other 10 risk factors from pregnant women with the congenital ma...One thousand, five hundred and seventy six pregnant women were followed upprospectively from early pregnancy to investigate the relation or Anti-HBs and other 10 risk factors from pregnant women with the congenital malformation of newborn. The results confirmed the teratogenic effect of Anti-HBs. The monofactorial analysis showed that the newborn congenital malformationincidence in Anti-HBs positive mothers was higher than that in Anti-HBs negative mothers (x2=6. 0274,P = 0.0141). The multifactorial analysis by using unconditional Logistic Repression model confirmed that Anti-HBs had a teratogenic effect (OR=5. 30952, P=0. 000302). The possibleteratogenic mechanism of Anti-HBs is discussed. It is important to further study the teratogenic effect of Anti-HBs in eugenics. Anti-HBc may have prevention effect on congenital malformation development (OR= 0. 27110, P= 0. 004515). In addition, exposure to toxicants during pregnancy is one of the risk factors causing congenital malformation (OR= 8. 17080, P=0. 001780).展开更多
BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus(HBV)is a known carcinogen that may be involved in pancreatic cancer development.Detection of HBV biomarkers[especially expression of HBV regulatory X protein(HBx)]within the tumor tissue m...BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus(HBV)is a known carcinogen that may be involved in pancreatic cancer development.Detection of HBV biomarkers[especially expression of HBV regulatory X protein(HBx)]within the tumor tissue may provide direct support for this.However,there is still a lack of such reports,particularly in non-endemic regions for HBV infection.Here we present two cases of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,without a history of viral hepatitis,in whom the markers of HBV infection were detected in blood and in the resected pancreatic tissue.CASE SUMMARY The results of examination of two patients with pancreatic cancer,who gave informed consent for participation and publication,were the source for this study.Besides standards of care,special examination to reveal occult HBV infection was performed.This included blood tests for HBsAg,anti-HBc,anti-HBs,HBV DNA,and pancreatic tissue examinations with polymerase chain reaction for HBV DNA,pregenomic HBV RNA(pgRNA HBV),and covalently closed circular DNA HBV(cccDNA)and immunohistochemistry staining for HBxAg and Ki-67.Both subjects were operated on due to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and serum HBsAg was not detected.However,in both of them anti-HBc antibodies were detected in blood,although HBV DNA was not found.Examination of the resected pancreatic tissue gave positive results for HBV DNA,expression of HBx,and active cellular proliferation by Ki-67 index in both cases.However,HBV pgRNA and cccDNA were detected only in case 1.CONCLUSION These cases may reflect potential involvement of HBV infection in the development of pancreatic cancer.展开更多
Since its discovery by Blumberg in 1965, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is used as the fingerprint of hepatitis B infection. Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined by a viral replication (DNA detectabl...Since its discovery by Blumberg in 1965, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is used as the fingerprint of hepatitis B infection. Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined by a viral replication (DNA detectable) in the absence of HBsAg. Burkina Faso is a high endemic area where the prevalence is higher than 14%. At the National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) of Ouagadougou, HBsAg is the only sought marker used to distinguish donors towards Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Acceptation of blood donation is based specifically on the absence of HBsAg, which exposes to the risk of HBV transmission during transfusion. The goal of this study is to evaluate this risk by determining the prevalence of OBI in blood donors. Patients and Methods: It was a five-month prospective study on blood donations collected from January to May 2016. The HBc antibody has been sought in the serums of negative HBsAg donors. The measure of B DNA by Real Time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and that of antibodies anti-HBs have been proposed to anti-HBc positive donors. Abdominal ultrasound, the transaminases, prothrombin level, alphafeto-proteins, hepatic fibrosis have been proposed to donors who were detectable for the DNA. Sociodemographic parameters have been collected. The test costs were borne by donors who were recalled by phone to adhere to the study. Results: Among 1980 negative donors HBsAg, 872 (44%) were positive for anti-HBc. 160 on 872 donors were received for consultation, among which 76 (76/160) were able to realise DNA which was detectable in 25 donors on 76, thus a prevalence of 32.8%. The mean value of DNA was 953 IU/ml. Physical examination and hepatic ultrasounds were normal except a case where hepatic steatosis was found. The biologic standard hepatic results were in normal range. None of the patient was able to realise hepatic fibrosis evaluation. A case of co-infection HIV/OBI was noted. Conclusion: This study shows that in Burkina, almost half of blood bags transfused are anti-HBc positive and around one third (32.8%) probably have HBV DNA. This poses a potential risk of contamination for non-immunized recipient. It is thus important that, in addition to HBsAg, Anti-HBc should be systematically sought in order to minimize the risk.展开更多
To study IgG subclasses for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (anti-HBc) in different populations, a comparison was made between 104 chronic carriers (60 male and 44 female) and 434 recovered individuals ...To study IgG subclasses for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (anti-HBc) in different populations, a comparison was made between 104 chronic carriers (60 male and 44 female) and 434 recovered individuals (247 male and 192 female). Biochemistry analyses of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) were also performed. Among the 104 chronic carriers, 21 patients were found to be ALT and AST abnormal (〉 25 IU/ml). After comparing these ALT and AST abnormal patients with other ALT and AST normal chronic carriers, no statistical difference was observed in the OD values of the anti-HBe (p 〉 0.05). The ELISA results showed the anti-HBc IgG subclass pattern was IgG1 〉 IgG3 〉 IgG4 in chronic carriers and IgG3 〉 IgG1 〉 IgG4 in recovered individuals (p 〈 0.05). This result suggests the IgG1/IgG3 ratio may be related with HBV status. However, in spite of the different anti-HBc IgG1/IgG3 patterns demonstrated in different populations, both anti-HBc IgG1 and IgG3 concentrations were significantly higher in chronic carriers (p 〈 0.05). Therefore, both the anti-HBc IgG1/IgG3 ratio and their amounts differed. They may play a significant role in chronic carriers and recovered individuals. The anti-HBc IgG subclass profiles of chronic carriers were not changed regardless of liver inflammation, and were independent of sex and age.展开更多
文摘In 2008,the European Association for the study of the liver(EASL) defined occult hepatitis B virus infection (OBI) as the"presence of hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in the liver(with detectable or undetectable HBV DNA in the serum) of individuals testing hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) negative by currently available assays".Several aspects of occult HBV infection are still poorly understood,including the definition itself and a standardized approach for laboratory-based detection,which is the purpose of this review.The clinical significance of OBI has not yet been established;however,in terms of public health,the clinical importance arises from the risk of HBV transmission.Consequently,it is important to detect high-risk groups for occult HBV infection to prevent transmission.The main issue is,perhaps,to identify the target population for screening OBI.Viremia is very low or undetectable in occult HBV infection,even when the most sensitive methods are used,and the detection of the viral DNA reservoir in hepatocytes would provide the best evaluation of occult HBV prevalence in a defined set of patients.However,this diagnostic approach is obviously unsuitable:blood detection of occult hepatitis B requires assays of the highest sensitivity and specificity with a lower limit of detection<10 IU/mL for HBV DNA and<0.1 ng/mL for HBsAg.
文摘Occult hepatitis B infection(OBI) is characterized by hepatitis B virus(HBV) DNA in serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) presenting HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive serological patterns.Occult HBV status is associated in some cases with mutant viruses undetectable by HBsAg assays;but more frequently it is due to a strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression.OBI is an entity with world-wide diffusion.The failure to detect HBsAg,despite the persistence of the viral DNA,is due in most cases to the strong suppression of viral replication and gene expression that characterizes this"occult"HBV infection;although the mechanisms responsible for suppression of HBV are not well understood.The majority of OBI cases are secondary to overt HBV infection and represent a residual low viremia level suppressed by a strong immune response together with histological derangements which occurred during acute or chronic HBV infection.Much evidence suggests that it can favour the progression of liver fibrosis and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.
文摘Occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) is characterized by the persistence of HBV DNA in the liver tissue in individuals negative for the HBV surface antigen.The prevalence of OBI is quite variable depending on the level of endemic disease in different parts of the world,the different assays utilized in the studies,and the different populations studied.Many studies have been carried out on OBI prevalence in different areas of the world and categories of individuals.The studies show that OBI prevalence seems to be higher among subjects at high risk for HBV infection and with liver disease than among individuals at low risk of infection and without liver disease.
文摘AIM:To identify blood donors with occult hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection(OBI) to promote safe blood donation.METHODS:Descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on 3167 blood donors negative for hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg),hepatitis C antibody(HCV Ab) and human immunodeficiency virus Ab.They were subjected to the detection of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST) and screening for anti-HBV core antibodies(total) by two different techniques;[Monoliza antibodies to hepatitis B core(Anti-HBc) Plus-Bio-Rad] and(ARC-HBc total-ABBOT).Positive samples were subjected to quantitative detection of antibodies to hepatitis B surface(anti-HBs)(ETI-AB-AUK-3,Dia Sorin-Italy).Serum anti-HBs titers > 10 IU/L was considered positive.Quantitative HBV DNA by real time polymerase chain reaction(PCR)(QIAGEN-Germany) with 3.8 IU/mL detection limit was estimated for blood units with negative serum anti-HBs and also for 32 whose anti-HBs serum titers were > 1000 IU/L.Also,265 recipients were included,34 of whom were followed up for 3-6 mo.Recipients were investigated for ALT and AST,HBV serological markers:HBsAg(ETI-MAK-4,Dia Sorin-Italy),anti-HBc,quantitative detection of anti-HBs and HBV-DNA.RESULTS:525/3167(16.6%) of blood units were positive for total anti-HBc,64% of those were antiHBs positive.Confirmation by ARCHITECT anti-HBc assay were carried out for 498/525 anti-HBc positive samples,where 451(90.6%) confirmed positive.Reactivity for anti-HBc was considered confirmed only if two positive results were obtained for each sample,giving an overall prevalence of 451/3167(14.2%) for total anti-HBc.HBV DNA was quantified by real time PCR in 52/303(17.2%) of anti-HBc positive blood donors(viral load range:5 to 3.5 x 105 IU/mL) with a median of 200 IU/mL(mean:1.8 x 104 ± 5.1 x 104 IU/mL).AntiHBc was the only marker in 68.6% of donors.Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis for identifying risk factors associated with anti-HBc and HBV-DNA positivity among blood donors showed that age above thirty and marriage were the most significant risk factors for prediction of anti-HBc positivity with AOR 1.8(1.4-2.4) and 1.4(1.0-1.9) respectively.Other risk factors as gender,history of blood transfusion,diabetes mellitus,frequent injections,tattooing,previous surgery,hospitalization,Bilharziasis or positive family history of HBV or HCV infections were not found to be associated with positive anti-HBc antibodies.Among anti-HBc positive blood donors,age below thirty was the most significant risk factor for prediction of HBV-DNA positivity with AOR 3.8(1.8-7.9).According to HBV-DNA concentration,positive samples were divided in two groups;group one with HBV-DNA ≥ 200 IU/mL(n = 27) and group two with HBV-DNA < 200 IU/mL(n = 26).No significant difference was detected between both groups as regards mean age,gender,liver enzymes or HBV markers.Serological profiles of all followed up blood recipients showed that,all were negative for the studied HBV markers.Also,HBV DNA was not detected among studied recipients,none developed post-transfusion hepatitis(PTH) and the clinical outcome was good.CONCLUSION:OBI is prevalent among blood donors.Nucleic acid amplification/HBV anti core screening should be considered for high risk recipients to eliminate risk of unsafe blood donation.
文摘One thousand, five hundred and seventy six pregnant women were followed upprospectively from early pregnancy to investigate the relation or Anti-HBs and other 10 risk factors from pregnant women with the congenital malformation of newborn. The results confirmed the teratogenic effect of Anti-HBs. The monofactorial analysis showed that the newborn congenital malformationincidence in Anti-HBs positive mothers was higher than that in Anti-HBs negative mothers (x2=6. 0274,P = 0.0141). The multifactorial analysis by using unconditional Logistic Repression model confirmed that Anti-HBs had a teratogenic effect (OR=5. 30952, P=0. 000302). The possibleteratogenic mechanism of Anti-HBs is discussed. It is important to further study the teratogenic effect of Anti-HBs in eugenics. Anti-HBc may have prevention effect on congenital malformation development (OR= 0. 27110, P= 0. 004515). In addition, exposure to toxicants during pregnancy is one of the risk factors causing congenital malformation (OR= 8. 17080, P=0. 001780).
基金the Ministry of Science and Higher Education,No.FGMF-2022-0005the Russian Science Foundation,No.20-15-00373and the Moscow Healthcare Department,No.AAAA-A18-118021590196-1.
文摘BACKGROUND Hepatitis B virus(HBV)is a known carcinogen that may be involved in pancreatic cancer development.Detection of HBV biomarkers[especially expression of HBV regulatory X protein(HBx)]within the tumor tissue may provide direct support for this.However,there is still a lack of such reports,particularly in non-endemic regions for HBV infection.Here we present two cases of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma,without a history of viral hepatitis,in whom the markers of HBV infection were detected in blood and in the resected pancreatic tissue.CASE SUMMARY The results of examination of two patients with pancreatic cancer,who gave informed consent for participation and publication,were the source for this study.Besides standards of care,special examination to reveal occult HBV infection was performed.This included blood tests for HBsAg,anti-HBc,anti-HBs,HBV DNA,and pancreatic tissue examinations with polymerase chain reaction for HBV DNA,pregenomic HBV RNA(pgRNA HBV),and covalently closed circular DNA HBV(cccDNA)and immunohistochemistry staining for HBxAg and Ki-67.Both subjects were operated on due to pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and serum HBsAg was not detected.However,in both of them anti-HBc antibodies were detected in blood,although HBV DNA was not found.Examination of the resected pancreatic tissue gave positive results for HBV DNA,expression of HBx,and active cellular proliferation by Ki-67 index in both cases.However,HBV pgRNA and cccDNA were detected only in case 1.CONCLUSION These cases may reflect potential involvement of HBV infection in the development of pancreatic cancer.
文摘Since its discovery by Blumberg in 1965, the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is used as the fingerprint of hepatitis B infection. Occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) is defined by a viral replication (DNA detectable) in the absence of HBsAg. Burkina Faso is a high endemic area where the prevalence is higher than 14%. At the National Center for Blood Transfusion (NCBT) of Ouagadougou, HBsAg is the only sought marker used to distinguish donors towards Hepatitis B Virus (HBV). Acceptation of blood donation is based specifically on the absence of HBsAg, which exposes to the risk of HBV transmission during transfusion. The goal of this study is to evaluate this risk by determining the prevalence of OBI in blood donors. Patients and Methods: It was a five-month prospective study on blood donations collected from January to May 2016. The HBc antibody has been sought in the serums of negative HBsAg donors. The measure of B DNA by Real Time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) and that of antibodies anti-HBs have been proposed to anti-HBc positive donors. Abdominal ultrasound, the transaminases, prothrombin level, alphafeto-proteins, hepatic fibrosis have been proposed to donors who were detectable for the DNA. Sociodemographic parameters have been collected. The test costs were borne by donors who were recalled by phone to adhere to the study. Results: Among 1980 negative donors HBsAg, 872 (44%) were positive for anti-HBc. 160 on 872 donors were received for consultation, among which 76 (76/160) were able to realise DNA which was detectable in 25 donors on 76, thus a prevalence of 32.8%. The mean value of DNA was 953 IU/ml. Physical examination and hepatic ultrasounds were normal except a case where hepatic steatosis was found. The biologic standard hepatic results were in normal range. None of the patient was able to realise hepatic fibrosis evaluation. A case of co-infection HIV/OBI was noted. Conclusion: This study shows that in Burkina, almost half of blood bags transfused are anti-HBc positive and around one third (32.8%) probably have HBV DNA. This poses a potential risk of contamination for non-immunized recipient. It is thus important that, in addition to HBsAg, Anti-HBc should be systematically sought in order to minimize the risk.
文摘To study IgG subclasses for the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (anti-HBc) in different populations, a comparison was made between 104 chronic carriers (60 male and 44 female) and 434 recovered individuals (247 male and 192 female). Biochemistry analyses of AST (aspartate aminotransferase) and ALT (alanine aminotransferase) were also performed. Among the 104 chronic carriers, 21 patients were found to be ALT and AST abnormal (〉 25 IU/ml). After comparing these ALT and AST abnormal patients with other ALT and AST normal chronic carriers, no statistical difference was observed in the OD values of the anti-HBe (p 〉 0.05). The ELISA results showed the anti-HBc IgG subclass pattern was IgG1 〉 IgG3 〉 IgG4 in chronic carriers and IgG3 〉 IgG1 〉 IgG4 in recovered individuals (p 〈 0.05). This result suggests the IgG1/IgG3 ratio may be related with HBV status. However, in spite of the different anti-HBc IgG1/IgG3 patterns demonstrated in different populations, both anti-HBc IgG1 and IgG3 concentrations were significantly higher in chronic carriers (p 〈 0.05). Therefore, both the anti-HBc IgG1/IgG3 ratio and their amounts differed. They may play a significant role in chronic carriers and recovered individuals. The anti-HBc IgG subclass profiles of chronic carriers were not changed regardless of liver inflammation, and were independent of sex and age.