[Immunity against hepatitis A virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
Because of high fatality rate associated with acute infection by hepatitis A virus (HAV) in chronic hepatitis C patients, it is of interest to know the prevalence of immunization against HAV in these patients.


METHODS
Immunoglobulin G (IgG) IgG HAV antibodies (IgG anti-HAV) were determined in 313 hepatitis C virus antibodies (anti-HCV) positive patients and in 313 anti-HCV negative subjects (control group). Several epidemiological factors were recorded (age, sex, rural vs urban precedence, tattoos, parenteral drugs use, alcohol consumption and surgery).


RESULTS
The prevalence of IgG anti-HAV was identical in both groups: 81.2%. However, in those younger than 41 years, this prevalence was greater in those anti-HCV positive than in the control group. Parenteral drugs use and tattoos were more frequent in the first group. The presence of IgG anti-HAV was associated with age and the rural origin in both groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of IgG anti-HAV increases with age, and is more frequent in individuals with rural origin. It was also greater in young anti-HCV positive patients, when compared with controls of the same age. This finding can be due to the poor standards of hygiene probably associated with some practices more common in this population, such as parenteral drugs use, tattoos and others.
Díez-Redondo
María Pilar
MP
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, España. diezmp@hotmail.com
Almaraz
Ana
A
Jiménez Rodríguez-Vila
Manuel
M
Santamaría
Ana
A
de Castro
Julián
J
Torrego
Juan Carlos
JC
Caro-Patón
Agustín
A
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000276:immunology*; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D017957:Hepatitis A Virus, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G