Anti-hepatitis A seroprevalence among chronic viral hepatitis patients in Kelantan, Malaysia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the seroprevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) and to justify the need for hepatitis A vaccination.


METHODS
Patients (n = 119) were enrolled between July and September 2009. The diagnosis of CLD was based on the presence of viral markers for more than 6 mo. The diagnosis of liver cirrhosis was based on clinical, biochemical and radiological profiles. Patient serum was tested for anti-HAV IgG.


RESULTS
The overall anti-HAV seroprevalence was 88.2%. The aetiology of CLD was hepatitis B in 96 patients (80.7%) and hepatitis C in 23 patients (19.3%). Mean age was 44.4 ± 14 years. Patients were grouped according to age as follows: 24 (20.2%) patients in the 21-30 years age group, 22 (18.5%) in the 31-40 years age group, 31 (26.1%) in the 41-50 years age group, 23 (19.3%) in the 51-60 years age group and 19 (16.0%) patients aged greater than 60 years, with reported seroprevalences of 66.7%, 95.5%, 93.5%, 91.3% and 94.7%, respectively. There was a marked increase of seroprevalence in subjects older than 30 years (P = 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrated that patients aged greater than 30 years of age were likely to have natural immunity to hepatitis A. Therefore, hepatitis A vaccination may not be routinely required in this age group.
Department of Medicine, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
Fazlina
F
Ahmad
Nor Aizal Che
NA
Hamzah
Nazri
N
Mustaffa
Siew Hua
SH
Gan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D035922:Hepatitis A Antibodies; D022362:Hepatitis A Vaccines