Retrospective serological analysis of hepatitis E patients: a long-term follow-up study.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence and protective role of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) after natural hepatitis E infection. A retrospective analysis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HEV was performed in 37 patients followed-up for 5 years after epidemics of HEV. Two patients with sporadic hepatitis E (HE) were followed-up for 12 and 8 years. All patients infected during epidemics of HE were positive for IgG anti-HEV at 5 years of follow-up (geometric mean titre: 174.75). The two patients with sporadic HE were positive for IgG anti-HEV at the end of 12 and 8 years of follow-up (the IgG anti-HEV titre was 1: 200 in each patient). This study showed protection against disease by antibodies to HEV. It was therefore concluded that hepatitis E may be preventable by an efficacious vaccine.
Chadha
M S
MS
National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
Walimbe
A M
AM
Arankalle
V A
VA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M