Is hepatitis A vaccination necessary in Indian patients with cirrhosis of liver?
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis A vaccine has been recommended for patients with chronic liver disease since they have high mortality following acute hepatitis. This study was done to assess the prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A virus in Indian patients with liver cirrhosis to determine the relevance of this recommendation in India.


METHODS
Consecutive patients with cirrhosis of liver seen at two referral hospitals in southern India were tested for antibodies to hepatitis A virus using EIA. Age-matched non-cirrhotic adults attending the OPD served as controls.


RESULTS
Of the 52 patients (mean [SD] age 57.1 [11.0] years; 33 men) and 50 control subjects (52.0 [14.8] 5 years; 39 men), 51 patients and all the controls tested positive (p=ns).


CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with liver cirrhosis have antibodies against hepatitis A virus and thus immunization against this infection without screening appears unnecessary in them.
Xavier
Saju
S
Al shifa Hospital, Perintalmanna, Kerala 679 322. xsaju@yahoo.com
Anish
K
K
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies