[Comparison of recent IgG anti-HAV prevalence between two hospitals in Seoul and Gyeonggi area].
OBJECTIVE
Recently, the incidence of acute hepatitis A has increased nationwide and is related to the low rate of IgG anti-HAV. This study compared the prevalence of IgG anti-HAV in two university hospitals located in a large city and in a small city including a rural region according to age, gender, and the year of diagnosis.


METHODS
IgG anti-HAV was measured in a total of 4299 patients, who visited Seoul or Guri Hanyang University Hospital between January 2002 and December 2006.


RESULTS
The positive rates of the antibody in Seoul and Guri hospitals were 52.7% vs 57.1% in under the age of 1, 40.7% vs 42.2% in age of 1 to 4, 31.8% vs 30.3% in age of 5 to 9, 24.8% vs 27.1% in age of 10 to 14, 11.6% vs 18.2% in age of 15 to 19, 23.0% vs 20.3% in age of 20 to 24, 40.5% vs 42.9% in age of 25 to 29, 67.5% vs 75.0% in age of 30 to 34, 86.5% vs 88.1% in age of 35 to 39, 95.3% vs 93.6% in age of 40 to 44, 97.0% vs 98.7% in age of 45 to 49, and 98.5% vs 98.6% in patients who were more than 50, respectively. The positive rates of the antibody were not significantly different between two sites according to each age group and gender.


CONCLUSIONS
The results confirmed the low rates of IgG anti-HAV, particularly in the ages of 10-24 that match the age group of recently increased incidence of acute hepatitis A nationwide. Therefore, measurement of the antibody and vaccination should be considered in this age group.
Kim
Tae Yeob
TY
Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University, Guri, Korea.
Sohn
Joo Hyun
JH
Ahn
Sang Bong
SB
Son
Byoung Kwan
BK
Lee
Hang Lak
HL
Eun
Chang Soo
CS
Jeon
Yong Cheol
YC
Han
Dong Soo
DS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000453:epidemiology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007223:Infant; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014505:Urban Population
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G