Epidemiology and clinical features of sporadic hepatitis E as compared with hepatitis A.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the epidemiology and clinical features of two enterically transmitted hepatitis, namely hepatitis E and hepatitis A.


METHODS
We analyzed clinical features and risk factors of 105 cases of hepatitis A and 24 cases of hepatitis E admitted in 2002. All patients were tested positive for IgM antibody against either hepatitis A virus (HAV) or hepatitis E virus (HEV), and all patients were tested to be negative for IgM anti-HBV or IgG anti-HCV.


RESULTS
Hepatitis A patients were significantly younger (median age = 27 yr) and most had a recent history of shellfish consumption, whereas hepatitis E patients were older (median age = 53 yr) and most had a recent travel history. Whereas hepatitis A was milder and recovery was uneventful, hepatitis E was more severe, associated with significant mortality and frequently complicated by protracted coagulopathy and cholestasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatitis E is a more severe disease entity as compared with hepatitis A and significant proportion of them are imported cases from an endemic area.
Chau
Tai Nin
TN
Department of Medicine and Geriatrics, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Lai
Sik To
ST
Tse
Cyndy
C
Ng
Tak Keung
TK
Leung
Vincent King Sun
VK
Lim
Wilina
W
Ng
Mun Hon
MH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000276:immunology; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M