Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Circulating Immune Complexes (HBsAg-CICs) in Patients with Bleeding Disorders

Abstract. Approximately 90% of 67 multi-transfused patients with bleeding disorders were positive either for anti-HBs (85%) or HBsAg (4.5%). Using a polyethylene glycol trypsinization assay, we found HBsAg-containing specific circulating immune complexes (HBsAg-CICs) in 3 of the 57 HBsAg-negative haemophiliacs possessing anti-HBs. The occurrence of HBsAg-CICs may be a regular event in the conversion phase of HBs infection. Circulating immune complexes as detected by the anticomplementary assay were found in 32 of the 67 (48%) patients.