title: [Clinical features of acute hepatitis A in recent two years].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical features of acute hepatitis A in Seoul and Gyeonggi province during the recent 2 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the medical records of 222 patients who were diagnosed as acute hepatitis A between August 2005 and March 2007 at the Konkuk University Hospital and Korea University, Ansan Hospital. The clinical manifestation, serological tests, and image findings were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age of the patients was 28.1 years and the age groups of highest incidence were the second and third decade. The frequent symptoms were anorexia (66.4%), fatigue (49.2%), fever (47.7%), and abdominal discomfort (42.5%). Fourteen cases (6.3%) showed renal insufficiency, and hemodialysis was performed in one. Cholestatic hepatitis in 2 cases, relapsing hepatitis in 4 cases and prolonged hepatitis in 13 cases were observed. However, there was no case of fulminant hepatitis or death. The underlying diseases including chronic hepatitis B, diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorder did not affect the disease severity of hepatitis A. IgM anti-HAV was not detected initially in 6.7% of the patients. Anti-HEV (IgM) was detected simultaneously in 3 of 150 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age of patients with acute hepatitis A has been increased in the recent years. Most patients recovered uneventfully. However, unusual patterns of severe hepatitis and renal insufficiency occurred in considerable number of cases. Follow-up serologic test for IgM anti-HAV is needed in seronegative cases with hepatitis A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eung Jun
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: So Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Tae Ho
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Hyun Sung
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Han Su
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Byung Kook
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Hyeok
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.forename: Chang Hong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jin Nam
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyung Joon
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Yim
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000378:metabolism; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013383:Suburban Population
chemical_list: D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007075:Immunoglobulin M