Low molecular weight IgM antibody to hepatitis A virus in sera from the patients with hepatitis A virus infection

• Published in: Kanzo Vol. 28; no. 7; pp. 863 - 868
• Main Authors: YOKOTA, Katsuji, SUGA, Mitsuo, KODAMA, Toshinori, SATO, Yoshio, HIRANE, Toshimitsu, AKAHONAI, Yoshikazu, YACHI, Akira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: The Japan Society of Hepatology 1987
• Subjects: IgM(7S)
• ISSN: 0451-4203; 1881-3593
• DOI: 10.2957/kanzo.28.863

The molecular form of IgM antibody to hepatitis A virus (IgM anti-HA) was analysed by high speed liquid chromatography and enzyme immunoassay in 25 sera from 9 patients with hepatitis A virus infection. IgM anti-HA was detected in not only high molecular weight (HMW) IgM fractions but also low molecular weight (LMW) ones. HMW IgM anti-HA was predominant in the sera with an early phase of hepatitis A. In contrast, LMW IgM anti-HA was predominant in the sera with a late phase of illness. A significant correlation (p<0.01) was found between the ratio of LMW IgM anti-HA to HMW IgM anti-HA and the days after onset of illness. These findings suggest that the molecular form of IgM anti-HA may switch from HMW to LMW during the course of hepatitis A.