中文｜English
ISSN 1001-5256 (Print)
ISSN 2097-3497 (Online)
CN 22-1108/R
Volume 41 Issue 10
Oct.  2025
Turn off MathJax
Article Contents
Article Navigation >  Journal of Clinical Hepatology  > 2025  >  41(10): 1994-1998

Unveiling the clinical impact of hepatitis B core antibody

DOI: 10.12449/JCH251006
  • 1.

    Digestive Disease Center，Beijing United Family Hospital，Beijing 100016，China

  • 2.

    Hepatitis B Foundation，Doylestown，PA 18901，USA

  • 3.

    Liver Research Center，Beijing Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine in Liver Cirrhosis，Beijing Friendship Hospital，Capital Medical University，Beijing 100050，China

More Information
  • Corresponding author: JIA Jidong， jia_jd@ccmu.edu.cn （ORCID： 0000-0002-4673-8890）
  • Received Date: 2025-07-21
  • Accepted Date: 2025-09-09
  • Published Date: 2025-10-25
    Abstract
  • Hepatitis B core antibody （anti-HBc） is an important marker of prior HBV exposure and potential viral persistence. During acute HBV infection， anti-HBc IgM is the earliest antibody to appear shortly after HBsAg， usually lasting for 6 — 12 months， followed by anti-HBc IgG. In patients with chronic infection experiencing acute hepatitis flares， anti-HBc IgM may reappear， though typically at lower titers than in acute infection. “Isolated anti-HBc positivity” may indicate resolved/functional cure of prior HBV infection or occult HBV infection， and there is still a risk of HBV reactivation or transmission during chemotherapy， immunotherapy， blood transfusion， or organ transplantation. Therefore， accurate recognition of the clinical significance of anti-HBc is essential for comprehensive evaluation and individualized management of HBV infection.

     

    • FullText(HTML)
  • loading
    • References(31)
  • [1]
    LEE BO, TUCKER A, FRELIN L, et al. Interaction of the hepatitis B core antigen and the innate immune system[J]. J Immunol, 2009, 182( 11): 6670- 6681. DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.0803683.
    [2]
    THOMAS DL. Global elimination of chronic hepatitis[J]. N Engl J Med, 2019, 380( 21): 2041- 2050. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMra1810477.
    [3]
    CONNERS EE, PANAGIOTAKOPOULOS L, HOFMEISTER MG, et al. Screening and testing for hepatitis B virus infection: CDC recommendations- United States, 2023[J]. MMWR Recomm Rep, 2023, 72( 1): 1- 25. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7201a1.
    [4]
    World Health Organization(WHO). Guidelines on hepatitis B and C testing[M]. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2024.
    [5]
    European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B virus infection[J]. J Hepatol, 2025, 83( 2): 502- 583. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2025.03.018.
    [6]
    MICHITAKA K, HIRAOKA A, TOKUMOTO Y, et al. Clinical features of adult patients with acute hepatitis B virus infection progressing to chronic infection[J]. Int J Hepatol, 2014, 2014: 358206. DOI: 10.1155/2014/358206.
    [7]
    RODELLA A, GALLI C, TERLENGHI L, et al. Quantitative analysis of HBsAg, IgM anti-HBc and anti-HBc avidity in acute and chronic hepatitis B[J]. J Clin Virol, 2006, 37( 3): 206- 212. DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2006.06.011.
    [8]
    HOOFNAGLE JH. Serologic markers of hepatitis B virus infection[J]. Annu Rev Med, 1981, 32: 1- 11. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.me.32.020181.000245.
    [9]
    RAIMONDO G, LOCARNINI S, POLLICINO T, et al. Update of the statements on biology and clinical impact of occult hepatitis B virus infection[J]. J Hepatol, 2019, 71( 2): 397- 408. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.03.034.
    [10]
    O’BRIEN SF, FEARON MA, YI QL, et al. Hepatitis B virus DNA-positive, hepatitis B surface antigen-negative blood donations intercepted by anti-hepatitis B core antigen testing: The Canadian Blood Services experience[J]. Transfusion, 2007, 47( 10): 1809- 1815. DOI: 10.1111/j.1537-2995.2007.01396.x.
    [11]
    KIELY P, MARGARITIS AR, SEED CR, et al. Hepatitis B virus nucleic acid amplification testing of Australian blood donors highlights the complexity of confirming occult hepatitis B virus infection[J]. Transfusion, 2014, 54( 8): 2084- 2091. DOI: 10.1111/trf.12556.
    [12]
    PONDÉ RA, CARDOSO DP, FERRO MO. The underlying mechanisms for the‘anti-HBc alone’ serological profile[J]. Arch Virol, 2010, 155( 2): 149- 158. DOI: 10.1007/s00705-009-0559-6.
    [13]
    WONG TC, FUNG JY, CUI TY, et al. Liver transplantation using hepatitis B core positive grafts with antiviral monotherapy prophylaxis[J]. J Hepatol, 2019, 70( 6): 1114- 1122. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2019.03.003.
    [14]
    LU HF, LOK AS, WARNEKE CL, et al. Passive transfer of anti-HBc after intravenous immunoglobulin administration in patients with cancer: A retrospective chart review[J]. Lancet Haematol, 2018, 5( 10): e474- e478. DOI: 10.1016/S2352-3026(18)30152-2.
    [15]
    European Association for the Study of the Liver. EASL 2017 clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B virus infection[J]. J Hepatol, 2017, 67( 2): 370- 398. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2017.03.021.
    [16]
    TERRAULT NA, LOK ASF, MCMAHON BJ, et al. Update on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of chronic hepatitis B: AASLD 2018 hepatitis B guidance[J]. Hepatology, 2018, 67( 4): 1560- 1599. DOI: 10.1002/hep.29800.
    [17]
    PERRILLO RP, GISH R, FALCK-YTTER YT. American Gastroenterological Association Institute technical review on prevention and treatment of hepatitis B virus reactivation during immunosuppressive drug therapy[J]. Gastroenterology, 2015, 148( 1): 221- 244. DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2014.10.038.
    [18]
    SARIN SK, KUMAR M, LAU GK, et al. Asian-Pacific clinical practice guidelines on the management of hepatitis B: A 2015 update[J]. Hepatol Int, 2016, 10( 1): 1- 98. DOI: 10.1007/s12072-015-9675-4.
    [19]
    GROB P, JILG W, BORNHAK H, et al. Serological pattern“anti-HBc alone”: Report on a workshop[J]. J Med Virol, 2000, 62( 4): 450- 455.
    [20]
    U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA drug safety communication: FDA warns about the risk of hepatitis B reactivating in some patients treated with direct-acting antivirals for hepatitis C[EB/OL].( 2016-10-04)[ 2025-10-08]. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-warns-about-risk-hepatitis-b-reactivating-some-patients-treated. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-drug-safety-communication-fda-warns-about-risk-hepatitis-b-reactivating-some-patients-treated
    [21]
    FIRNHABER C, VIANA R, REYNEKE A, et al. Occult hepatitis B virus infection in patients with isolated core antibody and HIV co-infection in an urban clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa[J]. Int J Infect Dis, 2009, 13( 4): 488- 492. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2008.08.018.
    [22]
    CHOOK JB, TEO WL, NGEOW YF, et al. Universal primers for detection and sequencing of hepatitis B virus genomes across genotypes A to G[J]. J Clin Microbiol, 2015, 53( 6): 1831- 1835. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.03449-14.
    [23]
    VELATI C, FOMIATTI L, BARUFFI L, et al. Criteria for hepatitis B virus screening and validation of blood components in Italy: The position of the SIMTI HBV working group[J]. Blood Transfus, 2011, 9( 4): 455- 461. DOI: 10.2450/2011.0014-11.
    [24]
    HU HH, LIU J, CHANG CL, et al. Level of hepatitis B(HB) core antibody associates with seroclearance of HBV DNA and HB surface antigen in HB e antigen-seronegative patients[J]. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol, 2019, 17( 1): 172- 181. DOI: 10.1016/j.cgh.2018.04.064.
    [25]
    YUAN Q, SONG LW, CAVALLONE D, et al. Total hepatitis B core antigen antibody, a quantitative non-invasive marker of hepatitis B virus induced liver disease[J]. PLoS One, 2015, 10( 6): e0130209. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130209.
    [26]
    NISHIDA T, MATSUBARA T, YAKUSHIJIN T, et al. Prediction and clinical implications of HBV reactivation in lymphoma patients with resolved HBV infection: Focus on anti-HBs and anti-HBc antibody titers[J]. Hepatol Int, 2019, 13( 4): 407- 415. DOI: 10.1007/s12072-019-09966-z.
    [27]
    FONTAINE H, KAHI S, CHAZALLON C, et al. Anti-HBV DNA vaccination does not prevent relapse after discontinuation of analogues in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B: A randomised trial: ANRS HB02 VAC-ADN[J]. Gut, 2015, 64( 1): 139- 147. DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2013-305707.
    [28]
    SU FH, BAI CH, CHU FY, et al. Significance and anamnestic response in isolated hepatitis B core antibody-positive individuals 18 years after neonatal hepatitis B virus vaccination in Taiwan[J]. Vaccine, 2012, 30( 27): 4034- 4039. DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2012.04.031.
    [29]
    PEI SN, MA MC, WANG MC, et al. Analysis of hepatitis B surface antibody titers in B cell lymphoma patients after rituximab therapy[J]. Ann Hematol, 2012, 91( 7): 1007- 1012. DOI: 10.1007/s00277-012-1405-6.
    [30]
    HOSHI Y, HASEGAWA T, YAMAGISHI N, et al. Optimal titer of anti-HBs in blood components derived from donors with anti-HBc[J]. Transfusion, 2019, 59( 8): 2602- 2611. DOI: 10.1111/trf.15393.
    [31]
    GISH RG, BASIT SA, RYAN J, et al. Hepatitis B core antibody: Role in clinical practice in 2020[J]. Curr Hepatol Rep, 2020, 19( 3): 254- 265. DOI: 10.1007/s11901-020-00522-0.
    • Relative Articles
    • Supplements(0)
    • Cited By
  • 加载中

Catalog

    通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com
    • 1. 

      沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院 沈阳 110142

    1. 本站搜索
    2. 百度学术搜索
    3. 万方数据库搜索
    4. CNKI搜索

    Figures(1)  / Tables(2)

    Get Citation
    PDF
    XML

    Article Metrics

    Article views (99) PDF downloads(38) Cited by()
    Proportional views
    Related
        

    The first journal specializing in hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases in China

    Supervisor：Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China

    Sponsor：Jilin University

    Academic Support: Chinese Society of Hepatology，Chinese Medical Association

    Address: 461 Xinjiang Road, Changchun

    Submit：0431-88782044

    Peer review：0431-88783542

    Email：lcgdb@vip.163.com

    About Journal

    Submission Guideline

    Journal Online

    Hepatobiliary College

    Guidelines

    YesterdayIP[]YesterdayPV[]TodayIP[]TodayPV[]Online[]

    Website Design © 2020 Editorial Board of Journal of Clinical Hepatology 吉ICP备10000617号-1 Supported by: Beijing Renhe Information Technology Co. Ltd  

    /

    DownLoad:  Full-Size Img  PowerPoint
    Return
    Return