ABSTRACT
Objective:To summarize the characteristics of clinical features, blood biochemistry and immune indicators in elderly patients with hepatitis E.Methods:A total of 223 patients with hepatitis E were divided into elderly(n=101)versus non-elderly(n=122)groups and the mean age was(68.9±6.6)years and(46.2±8.8)years, respectively.The differences in clinical characteristics, blood biochemistry and immune indicators were compared between the two groups.Results:No significant differences in the gender, length of hospital stay and the combinations with jaundice, ascites, abdominal pain, hospital death and other co-morbidities were found between the two groups( P>0.05). But the elderly group versus non-elderly group showed significantly higher levels of total bilirubin [140.4(263.8)μmol/L vs.56.7(134.8)μmol/L, Z=3.289, P=0.001], direct bilirubin [105.9(199.0)μmol/L vs.37.7(110.4)μmol/L, Z=3.111, P=0.002]and indirect bilirubin [24.7(488.0)μmol/L vs.15.2(25.0)μmol/L, Z=2.505, P=0.012], and showed significantly lower levels of glutamyl transferase [98.0(113.0)U/L vs.127.5(176.2)U/L, Z=2.117, P=0.034]and albumin [32.2(8.2)g/L vs.36.9(6.2)g/L, Z=5.484, P<0.000], while the other blood biochemical indicators showed no significant difference(all P>0.05). The elderly group versus non-elderly group had significantly higher level of serum anti-hepatitis E virus IgM [17.3(53.0) vs.7.9(24.4), Z=2.351, P=0.019), while the positive rate of serum anti-hepatitis E virus IgG had no significant difference( χ2=1.284, P=0.526). Conclusions:Some blood biochemical and immunological indicators in elderly patients with hepatitis E are significantly different from those of non-elderly patients, but clinical features have no difference between the two groups.Changes in relevant indicators should be considered during the clinical diagnosis and treatment.