Detection of antibodies to hepatitis E virus in patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND
Viral hepatitis E (HIV) frequently causes epidemic outbreaks in many developing countries. It is also present in developed countries as imported cases. The role of hepatitis A virus as trigger for autoimmune chronic hepatitis has been demonstrated, and it has been suggested that this may also apply to HEV.


METHODS
The presence of anti-HEV antibodies in serum samples from patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis (n = 52) and with primary biliary cirrhosis (n = 25) was investigated using an Abbott assay and a peptide-based test.


RESULTS
Anti-HEV antibodies were detected with the Abbott test in 13% (7 of 52) of the patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis, but not of these were positive in the synthetic peptide-based test.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate the HEV is not associated with primary biliary cirrhosis but may be implicated in some cases of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.
Le Cann
P
P
Institute of Virology, School of Pharmacy, Tours, France.
Tong
M J
MJ
Werneke
J
J
Coursaget
P
P
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000276:immunology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies