Induction of T‐helper cell response to hepatitis B core antigen in chronic hepatitis B: A major factor in activation of the host immune response to the hepatitis B virus
George Marinos, Francesco Torre, Shilpa Chokshi, Munther Hussain, Berwin E. Clarke, David J. Rowlands, Adrian L. W. F. Eddleston, Nikolai V. Naoumov, Roger Williams – 1 October 1995 – The T helper (Th) cell response to hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg) was analyzed in 76 chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers with varying degrees of hepatic inflammation and HBV replication. Fifty‐five patients had active viral replication, 28 with minimal histological changes and normal alanine transaminase (ALT) and 27 with active hepatic inflammation and elevated ALT.