A nurse develops clinical symptoms consistent with hepatitis. She
recalls sticking herself with a needle approximately 4 months ago after
drawing blood from a patient. Serologic tests for HBsAg, antibodies to
HBsAg, and hepatitis A virus (HAV) are all negative; however, she is
positive for lgM core antibody. The nurse
A. Does not have hepatitis B
B. Is in the late stages of hepatitis B infection
C. Is in the “window” (after the disappearance of HBsAgand before the appearance of anti-HBsAg)
D. Has hepatitis C
A. Does not have hepatitis B
B. Is in the late stages of hepatitis B infection
C. Is in the “window” (after the disappearance of HBsAgand before the appearance of anti-HBsAg)
D. Has hepatitis C
Ans. C.
In a small number of patients with acute
hepatitis B infection, HBsAg can never be detected. In others, HBsAg becomes
negative before the onset of the disease of before the end of the clinical
illness. In such patients with acute hepatitis, hepatitis B virus infection may
only be established by the presence of antihepatitis B core lgM (anti-HBclgM),
a rising titer of anti-HBc, or the subsequent appearance of anti-HBsAg.
