Infection of hepatitis A virus in Japanese haemophiliacs.
OBJECTIVE
Outbreaks of hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in haemophiliacs have been reported from many countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis A virus antibody (HAVAb) in Japanese haemophiliacs.


METHODS
Sixty-seven male haemophiliacs were recruited for this study of HAV infection. We also compared the rate of HAV infection with that of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis G virus (HGV).


RESULTS
Fifteen of 67 haemophiliacs (22.4%) were positive for HAVAb. Prevalence of HAVAb was significantly higher in haemophiliacs than in Japanese normal subjects previously reported (P= 0.0001). Age, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin and prevalence of HIV, HCV, and HGV were not statistically different between HAVAb positive and HAVAb negative haemophiliacs. We suggest that the use of clotting factor concentrates is closely associated with HAV infection, but HAV infection does not have an effect on clinical course.


CONCLUSIONS
Administration of clotting factor concentrates may increase risk of HAV infection in haemophiliacs.
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
K
K
Hayashi
Y
Y
Fukuda
I
I
Nakano
Y
Y
Katano
K
K
Nagano
S
S
Yokozaki
T
T
Hayakawa
H
H
Toyoda
J
J
Takamatsu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D018067:Flaviviridae; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D006467:Hemophilia A / Q000150:complications*; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000453:epidemiology; D006507:Hepatovirus / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies