Antibody to hepatitis A and hemodialysis.
Antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was surveyed in 469 patients from 20 of 31 Michigan hemodialysis units, during spring 1978. The mean point prevalence of anti-HAV was 59.5% and within the 20 individual units ranged from zero to 100%. For the entire survey population, the point prevalence of anti-HAV was significantly greater with increasing age, among blacks, and in individuals with hypertension as their underlying renal disease. Anti-HAV was independent of sex, duration of dialysis, or the presence of either hepatitis B surface antigen or its associated antibody. Within individual units, anti-HAV prevalence was associated with a higher mean patient age but not with dialysis unit size, mean duration of dialysis therapy, race, or prevalence of hepatitis B markers among patients or staff. These data support reports that transmission of the hepatitis A virus is neither associated with hemodialysis therapy nor routinely spread by parenteral mechanisms as observed in hepatitis B virus transmission.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology*; D002648:Child; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006436:Hemodialysis Units, Hospital; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008824:Michigan; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens