title: [Prevalence and incidence of hepatitis A in patients with hepatitis B and C].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with chronic hepatitis are in risk to acquire a fulminant hepatitis associated with hepatitis A virus superinfection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antibodies against hepatitis A were study in serum from 353 patients with chronic hepatitis B or C.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of IgG-HAV antibodies was 81% in chronic hepatitis C patients, and 77% in chronic hepatitis B patients. The presence of anti-HAV antibodies was related to the patients' age. None case of acute hepatitis A in chronic hepatitis patients was detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies is high in patients with chronic viral hepatitis but the incidence of the disease is low. Hepatitis A vaccination should do with previously screening.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Hepatología. Hospital General Universitario Vall d'Hebron. Barcelona.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Olivé
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buti
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ignacio Esteban
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cotrina
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies