title: [Chronic hepatitis C and risk for hepatitis A infection].
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies and factors associated with HAV infection amongst patients with chronic hepatitis C. The prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in hepatitis C patients was 69.2% and did not differ significantly from 63.3% observed in the group of healthy controls. In patients with chronic hepatitis C the occurrence of HAV antibodies was not associated with the duration of HCV infection, history of transfusions and surgeries. There was a tendency towards higher prevalence of anti-HAV in persons with history of numerous hospitalizations (60.8% of persons with the history of up to 5 hospitalizations were positive for anti-HAV and more than 84.6% of those with more than 5 hospitalizations). Only 38.5% of patients under 35 years had anti-HAV antibodies. In conclusion immunization against hepatitis A should be recommended for hepatitis C patients under 35 years of age, most of whom are not immune to HAV. Testing for anti-HAV prior to vaccination should be performed in individuals older than 35 because natural immunity is common.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Obserwacyjno-Zakaźna Akademii Medycznej w Białymstoku.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chlabicz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grzeszczuk
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies
vernacular_title: Przewlekłe zapalenie watroby typu C A ryzyko zakazenia wirusem zapalenia watroby typu A.