Detection and significance of anti-pre S2 in patients with hepatitis B and HBsAg carriers

We studied anti-Pre S2 by ELISA incorporating a synthetic peptide corresponding to the pre S2 (120-150) sequence and a monoclonal anti-human IgG, conjugated with peroxidase in 139 patients with hepatitis B and HBsAg carriers. The positive rate was 90% inpatients with acute-hepatitis 6.7% in chronic active hepatitis and 2.5% in persistent hepatitis. No positive case was seen in the HBsAg carriers. These findings indicate that anti-pre S2 may contribute to virus clearance and early diagnosis. The coexistence of anti-pre S2 with pre-S2 antigen was found only in patients with acute hepatitis, and anti-pre S2 may be coexistent with HBeAg in acute hepatitis, whereas all HBeAg positive patients with chronic hepatitis and HBsAg carriers lacked anti-pre S2. Comparing with anti-HBc IgM, anti-HBs and anti-HBe, anti-pre S2 is an earlier antibody in humoral immune response to HBV infection during the acute phase of hepatitis.