Anti-Hepatitis E Antibody in Hemodialysis Patients in Isfahan, Iran: Prevalence and Risk Factors.
BACKGROUND
Many studies have been performed regarding the prevalence of hepatitis E in the general population, but there is controversial evidence for an increased risk of the infection in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (HD).


OBJECTIVE
The primary end point of the present study was to determine if the prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus IgG (anti-HEV IgG) is higher in patients on maintenance HD than in the normal population in Isfahan.


METHODS
In a case-control study performed in Isfahan in June 2012, we compared the seroprevalence of HEV among 274 patients on maintenance HD and 275 otherwise healthy individuals. The patients were recruited from 3 HD centers in Isfahan. Anti-HEV IgG was detected using a Dia Pro Diagnostic HEV enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) kit. Demographic and clinical data (sex, age, blood transfusion history, HD duration, age at HD initiation, and evidence of hepatitis B and hepatitis C infections) were obtained from the medical records of the HD patients.


RESULTS
Anti-HEV IgG was detected in 27 (9.9%) controls and 78 (28.3%) patients, with the difference being statistically significant (P < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant association between positive anti-HEV antibody, HD duration, and blood transfusion history in the HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the results, it seems necessary to conduct prospective studies in order to identify factors responsible for the high seroprevalence of HEV in Isfahan HD units.
Baqiyatallah Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Seyed Moayed
SM
Alavian
Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Behrooz
B
Ataei
Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Ali
A
Ebrahimi
Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Omid
O
Pirhaji
Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Roya
R
Azad
Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Behrooz
B
Olya
Medical Students' Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, IR Iran.
Amir Mohammad
AM
Ataei
Hemodialysis; Hepatitis E; Prevalence; Serology