Prevalence of a non-A, non-B-associated antigen/antibody system detected by radioimmunoassay in acute and chronic liver disease.

An antigen/antibody system associated with one form of parenterally transmitted non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis has been identified by solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA). The antigen is found in 3% of normal subjects and in increased frequency in patients with haemophilia, renal homograft recipients, homosexual men, prostitutes, drug addicts, and patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. The antigen was found in normal frequency in patients with acute hepatitis A and B, sporadic NANB hepatitis (nondrug addicts), autoimmune and alcohol-induced chronic liver disease, and primary biliary cirrhosis.