Antibodies to single‐stranded DNA: An aid in diagnosis of viral hepatitis

In clinical and subclinical viral hepatitis a significant increase of antibodies to single‐stranded DNA revealed the prepatent stage of the disease before any elevation of serum transaminases. In type A hepatitis, a rise in anti‐DNA titers was detectable one to two weeks before onset of clinical and biochemical signs; in type B hepatitis, the rise of anti‐DNA coincided with or preceded the appearance of HBsAg, several weeks before the onset of clinical illness. In both hepatitis types anti‐DNA titers reached a peak (640–2,560) at onset and dropped shortly after serum transaminases returned to normal at the end of acute illness. The anti‐DNA response in non‐A/non‐B hepatitis was of similar magnitude. Anti‐DNA elevation was the only positive sign found in most silent infections of either type that later showed specific seroconversion. Anti‐DNA levels in noninfected contacts were in the same range as those found in a group of healthy individuals.