Hepatitis E antibody profiles in serum and urine.
The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-HEV antibody profiles in urine specimens in comparison to corresponding serum samples to assess the utility of urine as a clinical specimen. Paired serum and urine specimens from 71 hepatitis E patients, 33 non-E hepatitis patients, 63 patients with nonhepatic diseases, and 26 healthy individuals were tested by recombinant HEV protein (55 kD)-based indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Uronegativity for anti-HEV IgM was noted in 71 (100%) serologically confirmed patients with hepatitis E. Hepatitis E patients (10/10) showed urinary absence or very low levels of total IgM by capture ELISA, suggesting absence or low levels of filtration, and/or local synthesis, and/or transudation of IgM in urine during infection. When these patients were tested for total IgG and IgA, microquantities of immunoglobulins were noted in all urine samples (10/10 for each). However, the proportions of uropositivity for anti-HEV IgG and IgA in hepatitis E patients were low and indicated only 21.42% and 49.33% concordance with seropositivity, respectively. Control groups also showed low and variable uropositivity for anti-HEV IgG and IgA. Overall, HEV-specific antibodies exhibited by serum in recent and past infections were not found in urine. The study demonstrated the inadequacy of urine specimens for detection of hepatitis E antibodies.
Joshi
M S
MS
Hepatitis Division, National Institute of Virology, Pune, India.
Walimbe
A M
AM
Arankalle
V A
VA
Chadha
M S
MS
Chitambar
S D
SD
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M