721. A 39-year-old black man presents with complaints of anorexia, malaise, fatigue, dark urine, and upper abdominal discomfort. He admits to homosexuality, but denies blood transfusions, alcohol intake, or intravenous drug abuse. On physical examination, the patient has a temperature of 100.2 degrees F, scleral icterus, and jaundice. His liver is palpable below the right costal margin, and there is moderate right upper quadrant tenderness. Liver function test results are as follows: total bilirubin 12.4%, SGOT 980 units, SGPT 1200 units. Serologic findings are as follows: anti-hepatitis A IgM negative, HBsAg positive, anti-HBc IgM positive, HBeAg positive, anti-HBsAb negative, hepatitis C negative. When this patient enters the window period, what would likely be the first change in his serologic findings?
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