Radioimmunological study of the Australia antigen and its antibody in a rheumatic population

AgAu as revealed by Blumberg is a surface antigen, whence its present name AgHBs. Anti-HBs antibodies are difficult to determine by conventional immunological methods whereas the radioimmunological technique is very sensitive. This emerges from numerous studies and also from the present work. The so-called 'sandwich' radioimmunological method appears highly sensitive, which certainly explains the large number of Ac anti-HBs carriers. We find the same observation on the part of many authors. It seems important to stress the following point. 14 of our subjects, in whom we found Ac anti-HBs, had undergone one or more tests for AgHBs and its Ac during previous hospitalisations, by electro-syneresis and passive hemaglutination. Some may perhaps have become 'positivised', but it may, also be that the radioimmunological technique is more sensitive. No jaundice or other signs of viral hepatitis, no biological liver disturbances were observed meanwhile. For rheumatoid polyarthritis Ziegenfuss has even raised the following hypothesis: the rheumatoid factor, by interfering in the detection of Ag by immunoelectrophoresis, could mask its presence. A first study had shown the greater sensitivity of electrosyneresis than of passive hemaglutination. It may now be said that radoimmunology is more sensitive still