AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and to justify the need for hepatitis A vaccination.METHODS:Patients (n=119) were enrolled be...AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and to justify the need for hepatitis A vaccination.METHODS:Patients (n=119) were enrolled between July and September 2009.The diagnosis of CLD was based on the presence of viral markers for more than 6 mo.The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on clinical,biochemical and radiological profiles.Patient serum was tested for anti-HAV IgG.RESULTS:The overall anti-HAV seroprevalence was 88.2%.The aetiology of CLD was hepatitis B in 96 patients (80.7%) and hepatitis C in 23 patients (19.3%).Mean age was 44.4 ± 14 years.Patients were grouped according to age as follows:24 (20.2%) patients in the 21-30 years age group,22 (18.5%) in the 31-40 years age group,31 (26.1%) in the 41-50 years age group,23(19.3%) in the 51-60 years age group and 19 (16.0%) patients aged greater than 60 years,with reported seroprevalences of 66.7%,95.5%,93.5%,91.3% and 94.7%,respectively.There was a marked increase of seroprevalence in subjects older than 30 years (P=0.001).CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrated that patients aged greater than 30 years of age were likely to have natural immunity to hepatitis A.Therefore,hepatitis A vaccination may not be routinely required in this age group.展开更多
基金Supported by Short term grant No. 304/PPSP/61310014 from the Universiti Sains Malaysia
文摘AIM:To determine the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and to justify the need for hepatitis A vaccination.METHODS:Patients (n=119) were enrolled between July and September 2009.The diagnosis of CLD was based on the presence of viral markers for more than 6 mo.The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on clinical,biochemical and radiological profiles.Patient serum was tested for anti-HAV IgG.RESULTS:The overall anti-HAV seroprevalence was 88.2%.The aetiology of CLD was hepatitis B in 96 patients (80.7%) and hepatitis C in 23 patients (19.3%).Mean age was 44.4 ± 14 years.Patients were grouped according to age as follows:24 (20.2%) patients in the 21-30 years age group,22 (18.5%) in the 31-40 years age group,31 (26.1%) in the 41-50 years age group,23(19.3%) in the 51-60 years age group and 19 (16.0%) patients aged greater than 60 years,with reported seroprevalences of 66.7%,95.5%,93.5%,91.3% and 94.7%,respectively.There was a marked increase of seroprevalence in subjects older than 30 years (P=0.001).CONCLUSION:Our study demonstrated that patients aged greater than 30 years of age were likely to have natural immunity to hepatitis A.Therefore,hepatitis A vaccination may not be routinely required in this age group.
