ReviewArchives of virology2025
When serology misleads: cross-reactivity in acute hepatitis.
Review in Archives of virology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Acute viral hepatitis (AVH) caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis E virus (HEV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) often presents with similar clinical and biochemical features. However, serological cross-reactivity among these viruses poses significant diagnostic challenges, potentially leading to misclassification, inappropriate management, and unreliable epidemiological data. To review the immunological mechanisms contributing to serological cross-reactivity in AVH and highlight the diagnostic and clinical implications, with a focus on the importance of molecular confirmation. A structured literature review was conducted using the PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Keywords included terms related to cross-reactivity, acute hepatitis, serological testing, molecular diagnostics, and specific viral agents. Peer-reviewed studies published in English up to 2025 were included. Cross-reactivity in AVH is primarily driven by polyclonal B-cell activation, antibody polyreactivity, and T-cell receptor cross-specificity. Studies report that up to 33.3% of anti-HEV IgM-positive samples also test positive for EBV or CMV IgM, despite negative PCR confirmation. This overlap is particularly problematic in immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women, where accurate pathogen identification is critical. While PCR offers superior specificity and sensitivity, its implementation is limited by cost and accessibility in low-resource settings. Serological cross-reactivity in acute hepatitis significantly impacts diagnostic precision and clinical decision-making. Incorporating molecular testing, especially PCR, into diagnostic workflows is essential to ensure accurate diagnosis, particularly in high-risk populations.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.