ABSTRACT
The chromatographic profiles of IgM anti-delta in 45 acute and 24 chronic delta patients were analyzed by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Predominance of 19S IgM anti-delta was observed in the sera of 100 percent of coinfected and 62% of superinfected patients. In contrast, 7S IgM anti-delta was predominant in 83% of patients with chronic hepatitis delta. The study of the chromatographic profiles of IgM anti-delta in the development of the disease showed an association between the process of chronic delta-infection and the failure of 7S IgM anti-delta monomers to form 19S pentamers. The results showed that the test for 7S and 19S IgM anti-delta could be useful for differential diagnosis of acute and chronic hepatitis delta infection and for determining the prognosis of acute delta infection.
