[Antibody titers against the hepatitis A virus in a healthy population from an urban health area].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the level of immunity in a healthy population to the hepatitis A virus (HAV), according to age groups and in an urban health area.


METHODS
Transversal random prospective study of a sample of the population found by letters. SITE. Primary Care Centre covering the population of an urban health area in Valladolid.


METHODS
Random sample of 726 people with an adjustment as to sex and age according to the area's average, in line with the full census of the above area. The sample was 95% trustworthy, with a 3% margin of error. People with serious illness at the time of the study were excluded.


RESULTS
We carried out a social-health count. We established the anti-HAV titer after its detection by enzyme immunoanalysis (HAVAB EIA Abbott); the titers were inferred from the absorbances relating then to that of a a "pool" of serums with very high titers. 69.9% (standardised rate) gave positive. The highest titers were presented in people between 31 and 50 (29.7 +/- 47.0), with significant differences both for lower (17.0 +/- 15.7) and higher (15.7 +/- 19.8) age groups (p. 0.001 for both).


CONCLUSIONS
The highest anti-HAV titers corresponded to people in the middle age-group, with a subsequent dropping-off. This could suggest a greater susceptibility to HAV infection in the older person.
Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila
M
M
Centro de Salud Casa del Barco, Valladolid.
Hernández Gajate
M
M
Pascual Martín
M L
ML
Martín Rojo
M
M
Fernández Alonso
M C
MC
Gómez Arranz
A
A
Hernández Pérez
P
P
Martín Rodríguez
J F
JF
Orduña Domingo
A
A
Caro-Patón Gómez
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies
Estudio de los títulos de anticuerpos frente al virus de la hepatitis A en una población sana de una zona de salud urbana.