[Urinary excretion of hepatitis B virus antigens, antibodies against HB virus and proteins precipitating in polyethylene glycol in patients with acute and chronic hepatitis]. / Wydalanie z moczem antygenów wirusa B zapalenia watroby, przeciwcial przeciw wirusowi HB oraz bialek precypitujacych w glikolu polietylenowym u chorych na ostre i przewlekle zapalenie watroby.

The presence of antigens of HB virus and excretion of antibodies against the compounds of this virus in the urine of patients with acute and chronic hepatitis B was shown by the use of precipitation of polyethylenic glycol 6000 (PEG) and the immunoenzymatic method. The main compound of precipitating complexes in PEG excreted with the urine is the HBe antigen detected in the urine of patients both with acute and chronic virus B hepatitis.

The detection in urine specimens of IgG and IgM antibodies to hepatitis A and hepatitis B core antigens.

The use of urine as a noninvasive specimen for the diagnosis of hepatitis A (HAV) and hepatitis B (HBV) virus infections was investigated. Specimens of urine were collected at the same time as blood or saliva specimens, or singly in cases of previously serologically confirmed recent infection. The specimens were tested for IgG and IgM anti-HAV and anti-HBc by immunoglobulin class-specific capture radioimmunoassays (GACRIA and MACRIA). On the basis of assays on urine specimens it was possible to distinguish between individuals who were susceptible or immune to HAV or who had recently been infected with HAV. Using assays on 327 corresponding saliva specimens as reference tests, the observed sensitivity and specificity of tests on urine specimens by anti-HAV GACRIA were 98.9% and 99.1%, respectively, and by anti-HAV MACRIA were 95.8% and 99.6%, respectively. IgM and IgG anti-HBc were detected readily in the urine of 35 acute or recent cases of hepatitis B but were not found in the urine of seronegative individuals. Of the urine specimens from 52 individuals who were HBsAg carriers or who had had long past HBV infections, 49 contained detectable IgG anti-HBc. Of urine specimens from 42 HBsAg carriers, 11 contained raised IgM anti-HBc levels. Urine, which is a convenient specimen to collect, can be used to study outbreaks of hepatitis A, to ascertain the HAV immune status of individuals, to differentiate hepatitis A from hepatitis B, and to identify individuals who have been naturally exposed to HBV.

Antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 in the urine specimens of HIV-1-seropositive individuals.

Specific antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) were detected in 200-fold concentrated urine samples, but none were detected in unconcentrated urine specimens, from 100 randomly selected HIV-1--seropositive individuals by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot techniques using the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Using modified methods for both the ELISA and Western blot tests, antibodies to HIV-1 have also been detected in the unconcentrated urine specimens from the same HIV-1--seropositive individuals. No difference in the frequency of antibodies to HIV-1 were found between unconcentrated and 200-fold concentrated urine samples when tested by the modified methods. HIV-1 core antigen (p24) was not detected in either the concentrated or the unconcentrated HIV-1--seropositive adult urine samples; none of these individuals showed overt clinical or laboratory evidence of renal dysfunction. The titer of the antibodies to HIV-1 found in the urine specimens was found to be parallel with the titer of antibodies to HIV-1 in the corresponding individual's serum. Further elucidation of the pathophysiology and the nature of the specific antibodies to HIV-1 observed in the urine of HIV-1--seropositive individuals is under investigation in our laboratories.