Hepatitis A and hepatitis E virus co-infection with right pleural effusion, ascites and acute acalculous cholecystitis. A case report / Coinfección por el virus de la hepatitis A y la hepatitis E con derrame pleural derecho, ascitis y colecistitis acalculosa aguda. Reporte de caso

ABSTRACT Hepatitis A and hepatitis E are the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis in developing countries due to our poor sanitary conditions, both spread by fecal-oral route or through contaminated water and food. Being both self-limiting diseases, they are usually benign but may present with atypical clinical findings. A 32 year-old female with right pleural effusion, ascites and acalculous cholecystitis during the course of HAV and HEV co-infection is reported. Clinical improvement was observed with conservative management. As far as we know, this is the first case described of a patient with these three complications in the background of a hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus co-infection.

RESUMEN Hepatits A y hepatitis E son las principales causas de hepatitis viral en países en desarrollo debido a las limitadas condiciones sanitarias. Son condiciones usualmente benignas y autolimitadas, pero pueden presentarse de forma atípica. Se reporta una paciente de 32 años con efusión pleural derecha, colecistitis acalculosa y ascitis en el curso de una co-infección por el virus de Hepatitis A y hepatitis E. Hasta donde tenemos conocimiento, este es el primer caso de una paciente con estas tres complicaciones como resultado de una infección por el virus de hepatitis A y hepatitis E.

Hepatitis A / Hepatitis A

Resumen El virus de la hepatitis A ha estado clásicamente relacionado con el mecanismo de transmisión fecal-oral, característica de países endémicos. El aumento de las condiciones higiénicas en nuestro entorno había supuesto una importante disminución de los casos de infección por estos patógenos. Sin embargo, en la actualidad, su epidemiología esta cambiando debido a nuevas vías de contagio en Europa. En el caso de la hepatitis A, están aumentando los casos debidos a la transmisión por vía sexual, especialmente en hombres que tienen sexo con hombres. Los cambios descritos deberían promover la implantación de nuevas estrategias de diagnóstico, manejo y prevención. La hepatitis aguda por virus de hepatitis A usualmente sigue un curso corto, benigno y autolimitado sin ocasionar una hepatitis crónica, sin embargo en algunos casos puede manifestarse mediante formas atípicas.

Abstract Hepatitis A virus has been classically linked to the fecal-oral transmission mechanism, characteristic of endemic countries. The increase in hygiene conditions in our environment had led to a significant decrease in cases of infection by these pathogens. However, the epidemiology of these infections is currently changing due to new routes of transmission in Europe. In the case of hepatitis A, cases due to sexual transmission are increasing, especially among men who have sex with men. The changes described should promote the implementation of new strategies for the diagnosis, management and prevention of these diseases. Acute hepatitis due to the hepatitis A virus usually has a short, benign and self-limited course, without causing chronic hepatitis. However, some cases have an atypical presentation.

Aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques, étiologiques et évolutifs des hépatites aiguës au Centre Hospitalier National d'Enfants Albert Royer-Dakar

Introduction : l'hépatite aiguë est fréquente et représente un problème de santé publique dans les pays en développement. Les étiologies sont dominées par l'hépatite A en Afrique subsaharienne et en Asie du Sud-Est. Cependant, très peu d'études locales ont porté sur cette pathologie. Objectif : Étudier les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et évolutifs des hépatites aiguës chez les enfants hospitalisés au CHNEAR. Matériel et Méthodes : il s'agissait d'une étude rétrospective réalisée au CHNEAR de Dakar du 1er janvier 2007 au 31 décembre 2017. Étaient inclus les enfants hospitalisés pour une hépatite aiguë. Les données socio démographiques, cliniques, paracliniques et évolutives ont été recueillies. L'analyse des données uni et bivariée était faite grâce au logiciel R studio version 3.5.0. Résultats : au total, 35 000 enfants étaient hospitalisés durant la période d'étude parmi lesquels 71 patients avaient une hépatite aiguë déterminant une prévalence hospitalière de 0,2%. L'âge moyen à l'admission était de 65 mois avec un sex-ratio de 1,5. L'ictère cutanéo-muqueux était le principal signe physique (81,7%). La cytolyse était constante avec une moyenne des ALAT de 549UI/L. Une insuffisance hépatocellulaire était notée chez 24% des patients. L'étiologie était dans la grande majorité des cas indéterminée (66,2%). L'hépatite A représentait 15,5% et la phytothérapie (18,3%). L'évolution était favorable dans l'ensemble sans aucun cas de rechute. La létalité était de 16,9%. Conclusion : l'étiologie des hépatites demeurent encore indéterminées dans une large proportion au CHNEAR de Dakar. Le pronostic reste réservé pour les formes graves avec insuffisance hépatocellulaire

Metagenomic analysis reveals Hepatitis A virus in suspected yellow fever cases in Brazil

Using a metagenomic approach, we identified hepatitis A virus among cases of acute febrile illnesses that occurred in 2008-2012 in Brazil suspected as yellow fever. These findings reinforce the challenge facing routine clinical diagnosis in complex epidemiological scenarios.

SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF HEPATITIS A VIRUS IN FREE-RANGING NEOTROPICAL PRIMATES (Sapajus spp., Alouatta caraya) FROM THE PARANÁ RIVER BASIN, BRAZIL

Nonhuman primates are considered as the natural hosts of Hepatitis A virus (HAV), as well as other pathogens, and can serve as natural sentinels to investigate epizootics and endemic diseases that are of public health importance. During this study, blood samples were collected from 112 Neotropical primates (NTPs) (Sapajus nigritus and S. cay, n = 75; Alouatta caraya, n = 37) trap-captured at the Paraná River basin, Brazil, located between the States of Paraná and Mato Grosso do Sul. Anti-HAV IgG antibodies were detected in 4.5% (5/112) of NTPs, specifically in 6.7% (5/75) of Sapajus spp. and 0% (0/37) of A. caraya. In addition, all samples were negative for the presence of IgM anti-HAV antibodies. These results suggest that free-ranging NTPs were exposed to HAV within the geographical regions evaluated.

Using immunoglobulin Y as an alternative antibody for the detection of hepatitis A virus in frozen liver sections

An increasing amount of research has been conducted on immunoglobulin Y (IgY) because the use of IgY offers several advantages with respect to diagnostic testing, including its easy accessibility, low cost and translatability to large-scale production, in addition to the fact that it can be ethically produced. In a previous work, immunoglobulin was produced and purified from egg yolks (IgY) reactive to hepatitis A virus (HAV) antigens. In the present work, this anti-HAV-specific IgY was used in an indirect immunofluorescence assay to detect viral antigens in liver biopsies that were obtained from experimentally infected cynomolgus monkeys. Fields that were positive for HAV antigen were detected in liver sections using confocal microscopy. In conclusion, egg yolks from immunised hens may be a reliable source for antibody production, which can be employed for immunological studies.

High prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus genotype H infection among children with clinical hepatitis in west Mexico

Studies on the prevalence of infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) among children are scarce in Latin American countries, especially in Mexico. This study was aimed to investigate the prevalence of HBV infection, occult hepatitis B infection (OBI) and HBV genotypes among children with clinical hepatitis. In total, 215 children with clinical hepatitis were evaluated for HBV infection. HBV serological markers and HBV DNA were analysed. OBI diagnosis and HBV genotyping was performed. HBV infection was found in 11.2% of children with clinical hepatitis. Among these HBV DNA positive-infected children, OBI was identified in 87.5% (n = 21/24) of the cases and 12.5% (n = 3/24) were positive for both HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen. OBI was more frequent among children who had not been vaccinated against hepatitis B (p < 0.05) than in those who had been vaccinated. HBV genotype H was prevalent in 71% of the children followed by genotype G (8%) and genotype A (4%). In conclusion, OBI is common among Mexican children with clinical hepatitis and is associated with HBV genotype H. The results show the importance of the molecular diagnosis of HBV infection in Mexican paediatric patients with clinical hepatitis and emphasise the necessity of reinforcing hepatitis B vaccination in children.

Changes in the seroprevalence of IgG anti-hepatitis A virus between 2001 and 2013: experience at a single center in Korea

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The incidence of symptomatic hepatitis A reportedly increased among 20- to 40-year-old Korean during the late 2000s. Vaccination against hepatitis A was commenced in the late 1990s and was extended to children aged <10 years. In the present study we analyzed the changes in the seroprevalence of IgG anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) over the past 13 years. METHODS: Overall, 4903 subjects who visited our hospital between January 2001 and December 2013 were studied. The seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV was analyzed according to age and sex. In addition, the seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV was compared among 12 age groups and among the following time periods: early 2000s (2001-2003), mid-to-late 2000s (2006-2008), and early 2010s (2011-2013). The chi-square test for trend was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV did not differ significantly between the sexes. Furthermore, compared to the seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV in the early 2000s and mid-to-late 2000s, that in the early 2010s was markedly increased among individuals aged 1-14 years and decreased among those aged 25-44 years (P<0.01). We also found that the seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV in individuals aged 25-44 years in the early 2010s was lower than that in the early 2000s and mid-to-late 2000s. CONCLUSIONS: The number of symptomatic HAV infection cases in Korea is decreasing, but the seroprevalence of IgG anti-HAV is low in the active population.

Vacina de hepatite A / Hepatitis A vaccine

No Brasil, a vacina contra hepatite A está disponível no SUS, apenas para a vacinação de pessoas de maior vulnerabilidade e risco de doença grave, nos Centros de Referência para Imunobiológicos Especiais (CRIEs). A vacina está também disponível na rede privada. Essa estratégia resulta em baixíssima cobertura vacinal. Com base em dados administrativos, menos de 1% das crianças de 1 a 4 anos receberam a vacina em 2009. A Organização Mundial de Saúde (OMS) recomenda vacinação universal contra hepatite A para países com média endemicidade. Estudos de avaliação econômica são importantes no processo de tomada de decisão da introdução de uma nova vacina em programas de imunização. Esses estudos comparam benefícios e custos de intervenções, procurando garantir alocação eficiente dos recursos no sistema de saúde. O objetivo desse estudo foi desenvolver modelo de avaliação de custo-efetividade da vacinação universal contra hepatite A na infância, no Brasil, utilizando dados nacionais. Para isso, foram desenvolvidos modelos dinâmicos de infecção pelo vírus da hepatite A tendo como base os dados de soroprevalência da infecção obtidos no Inquérito Nacional de Hepatites. Segundo inquérito nacional das hepatites virais, a estimativa da prevalência para a exposição à infecção pelo VHA, referente ao conjunto das capitais do Brasil, foi de 39,5% (IC 95% 36,5%-42,5%). O percentual de expostos ao VHA na faixa etária de 5 a 9 anos foi de 27,0% (IC 95% 23,5%-30,5%) e de 44,1% (IC 40,4%-47,8%) para o grupo de 10 a 19 anos. Os resultados indicam associação inversa entre o nível socioeconômico e a prevalência de anti-HAV total, bem como a redução das prevalências nas faixas etárias de crianças e adolescentes, implicando um aumento do número de indivíduos suscetíveis à doença. No período de 1999 a 2010 foram confirmados no Sinan 130.354 casos de hepatite A, sendo a maior parte deles no tificados nas Regiões Nordeste (31,2%) e Norte (22,6%). Em relação às taxas de incidência, verfica-se queda no País desde 2006, e para as regiões, observa-se a mesma tendência. Em 2009, o País registrou uma taxa de 5,6 casos por 100 mil habitantes e que apenas oito estados (Ceará, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Santa Catarina, Espírito Santo e São Paulo) apresentaram taxas abaixo desse patamar. Em 2013, com o intuito de ampliar esta proteção, o Ministério da Saúde (MS) pretende incluir as vacinas de varicela e hepatite A no calendário básico de vacinação da criança. Para que ocorra a introdução destas novas vacinas é necessário levar em consideração aspectos importantes como a redução dos custos dos imunobiológicos, logística operacional (armazenamento, transporte, seringas e agulhas), eficácia dos insumos além do custo-benefício desses produtos. Portanto, estudos de avaliação econômica em saúde têm apoiado diretamente a tomada de decisão, demonstrando transparência, perspectivas econômicas e epidemiológicas, promovendo assim a eficiência e equidade. Obedecendo a tais prerrogativas. Foram encomendados e apresentados os estudos de custo-efetividade das vacinas de varicela e hepatite A. Os membros da CONITEC presentes na 8ª reunião do plenário do dia 06/09/2012, por unanimidade, ratificaram a decisão de recomendar a incorporação da vacina de hepatite A na rotina do Programa Nacional de Imunização. A Portaria SCTIE-MS N.º 2 de 18 de janeiro de 2013 - Torna pública a decisão de incorporar a vacina de hepatite A na rotina do Programa Nacional de Imunização do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS).

Análise da soroprevalência da hepatite A em povoados de Tocantinópolis e índios Apinajé em Tocantins – Brasil / Seroprevalence analysis of hepatitis A in Tocantinópolis towns and villages of indians Apinajé from Tocantins - Brazil

A hepatite A é uma doença hepática aguda, causada pelo vírus da hepatite A (HAV), um vírus de RNA da família Picornaviridae com transmissão fecal-oral. Atualmente, o Brasil apresenta um padrão de endemicidade intermediária da doença. Normalmente, a doença possui curso autolimitado e é benigna, porém existem formas graves que podem causar insuficiência hepática aguda em 0,01 porcento dos casos. Além de medidas sanitárias, outro método importante de prevenção é a utilização de vacinas inativadas, esta porém só é utilizada na imunização de grupos de risco. É conhecido o elevado risco de infecção pelo HAV em comunidades nativas no mundo, no entanto, poucos trabalhos abordam este tema em comunidades indígenas do Brasil. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência de hepatite A em aldeias e povoados pertencentes a reserva Apinajé, Tocantinópolis/TO. Foram analisadas 799 amostras sorológicas para anti-HAV total, sendo 358 indígenas e 441 dos povoados locais, em onze comunidades geograficamente separadas. Para tal, utilizou-se o Kit imunoenzimático comercial da marca Diasorin®. A prevalência total de anti-HAV na população estudada foi de 85,5 porcento . A localidade que apresentou maior prevalência foi a Aldeia Girassol (95,5 porcento). Observou-se o aumento da prevalência de anti-HAV com o envelhecimento da população, sendo menor a prevalência (32,7 porcento ) observada no grupo etário mais jovem (0-2 anos) e maior prevalência (100 porcento ) acima dos 40 anos de idade. Observa-se que, entre os indígenas, 84,87 porcento possuem anti-HAV reagente e nos povoados 85,97 porcento , não havendo diferença ao comparar estas prevalências.

Observamos que 39 porcento das crianças até 12 anos estão sob risco de adquirir a doença, e até os 5 anos este número sobe para 59 porcento , logo, a população média suscetível à hepatite A é baixa por situar-se entre a faixa de 5 à 14 anos. A reserva Apinajé apresenta prevalência intermediária de anti- HAV, tanto nas aldeias quanto nos povoados. Em relação a tendência de soroconversão de hepatite A, nas aldeias isto ocorre com maior frequência durante a transição da fase pré-escolar para escolar, enquanto que nos povoados este risco se dá entre a fase escolar e a adolescência. A prevalência encontrada em crianças e adolescentes reforça a possibilidade da implementação da vacina contra hepatite A no calendário infantil.

Hepatitis A is an acute liver disease caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV), an RNA virusof the Picornaviridae's family of fecal-oral transmission. Currently Brazil has a pattern ofintermediate endemicity of the disease. Usually the disease is self-limited and has a benigncourse, but there are severe forms that can cause acute liver failure in 0.01 percent of cases. Besidesto sanitary actions, another important method of prevention is to use inactivated vaccines, butthis is only used to immunize risk groups in Brazil. In native communities, the risk of HAVinfection is high around the world, however, few works address this issue in indigenouscommunities in Brazil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of hepatitisA in villages and towns belonging to Apinajé reservation, Tocantinópolis/TO. For this purpose,799 serum samples were analyzed for anti-HAV total being 358 from indigenous villages and441 from local town in eleven geographically separated communities. It was used thecommercial immunoenzymatic kit DiaSorin® brand. The overall prevalence of anti-HAV inthe population studied was 85.5 percent . The locality with the highest prevalence was the GirassolVillage (95.5 percent ). We observed increased prevalence of anti-HAV with an ascending aging ofpopulation, and the lowest prevalence (32.7 percent ) in the younger age group (0-2 years) and a higherprevalence (100 percent ) over 40 years of age.

It is observed that among the indigenous people84.87 percent have anti-HAV reagent and in the towns 85.97 percent , with no difference when comparingthese prevalences. We observed that 39 percent of children under 12 years are bound to acquire thedisease, and up to 5 years, this prevalence rises to 59 percent , so the average population susceptibleto hepatitis A is low as it is between the ranges of 5 to 14 years old. The reserve Apinajé hasintermediate prevalence of anti-HAV, both in villages and in the town. Regarding the trend ofseroconversion of hepatitis A in the villages that occurs most frequently during the transitionfrom preschool to school phase, while in the villages this risk occurs between middle childhoodand adolescence. The prevalence in children and adolescents strengthens implementation ofhepatitis A vaccine included in the childhood schedule could minimize the risks associated withthe disease.

Risk Factors for Acute Hepatitis A Infection in Korea in 2007 and 2009: A Case-Control Study

This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection in the Korean population. Participants were recruited from five referral hospitals across the country in 2007 and from 11 hospitals in 2009. Patients with positive anti-HAV IgM antibody tests became the case group, while patients treated for non-contagious diseases at the same hospitals were recruited as controls. A total of 222 and 548 case-control pairs were studied in the 2007 and 2009 surveys, respectively. Data from the surveys were analyzed jointly. In a multivariate analysis, sharing the household with HAV-infected family members (OR, 6.32; 95% CI, 1.4-29.6), contact with other HAV-infected individuals (OR, 4.73; 95% CI, 2.4-9.4), overseas travel in 2007 (OR, 19.93; 95% CI, 2.3-174.4), consumption of raw shellfish (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 1.8-3.5), drinking bottled water (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4), and occupation that involve handling food (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.3-8.4) increased the risk of HAV infection. Avoiding contact with HAV-infected individuals and avoiding raw foods eating could help minimize the risk of hepatitis A infection. Immunization must be beneficial to individuals who handle food ingredients occupationally or travel overseas to HAV-endemic areas.

An immunoenzymatic assay for the diagnosis of hepatitis A utilising immunoglobulin Y

The detection of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody levels by diagnostic kits in the convalescent period of disease generally use immunoglobulin G (IgG), which is expensive. An alternative to IgG is immunoglobulin Y (IgY), an immunoglobulin antibody encountered in birds and reptiles. The aim of this study was to develop a competitive immunoenzymatic assay to measure total anti-HAV antibody levels using anti-HAV IgY as the capture and conjugated immunoglobulins. For this purpose, anti-HAV IgY was conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and the optimal dilution of HRP-conjugated antibodies was evaluated to establish the competitive immuneenzymatic assay. The results obtained from our "in-house" assay were plotted on a receiver operator curve, which showed a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 98.8%, demonstrating that a competitive anti-HAV IgY immunoenzymatic assay developed "in house" could be used as an alternative to commercial assays that utilise IgG.

Hepatitis sifilítica / Syphilitic hepatitis

Se presentó un paciente de 40 años, con antecedentes patológicos personales de sepsis urinaria a repetición en los últimos 2 años, que 1 mes antes del ingreso comenzó con decaimiento, pérdida de peso y del apetito, dolor abdominal difuso y orinas oscuras. Se describió la evolución clínica y los estudios realizados mediante los cuales se le diagnosticó sífilis secundaria con afectación hepática y dermatológica

A case is presented of a male 40 year-old patient with a history of recurrent urinary sepsis for the last 2 years. One month before his admission, he started out with weakness, appetite suppression and weight loss, diffuse abdominal pain and dark urine. A description is provided of the patient's clinical evolution and the studies performed, by which he was diagnosed with secondary syphilis with hepatic and dermatologic manifestations

Hepatites virais: abordagem clínica com ênfase nos vírus A e E / Viral hepatitis: clinical approach with emphasis on A and E viruses

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: As hepatites virais são condições mórbidas extremamente comuns na prática clínica. Diferentes agentes etiológicos estão implicados no desenvolvimento da doença, especialmente os vírus A, B, C, D e E. O objetivo do presente artigo foi apresentar os aspectos gerais das hepatites desencadeadas por agentes virais, enfatizando-se as hepatites causadas pelos vírus A e E. CONTEÚDO: Foram utilizadas as palavras-chaves hepatites virais, hepatite A e hepatite E como descritores na pesquisa de dados nas bases Scielo (Scientific Eletronic Library Online) e Pubmed (U. S. National Library of Medicine), assim como livros texto,consensos e diretrizes relacionados ao tema. CONCLUSÃO: A ocorrência das hepatites causadas pelos vírus A e E está intimamente relacionada ao nível socioeconômico e às condições sanitárias da população, haja vista a transmissão ocorrer predominantemente por via fecal-oral. Embora ambas as entidades nosológicas apresentem evolução benigna na maioria dos casos, a educação sanitária e a promoção da saúde representam estratégias promissoras para a melhoria das condições de vida das populações suscetíveis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Viral hepatitis is a morbid condition extremely common in practical clinic. Different etiological agents are implicated in the development of illness, especially viruses A, B, C, D and E. The objective of this study is to present general aspects of hepatitis triggered by viral agents,with emphasis on hepatitis caused by viruses A and E. CONTENTS: We used the keywords viral hepatitis, hepatitis A and hepatitis E as descriptors in the data search Scielo (Scientific Electronic Library Online) and Pubmed (U. S. National Library of Medicine), as well as textbooks, consensus and guidelines related to the topic. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of hepatitis caused by viruses A and E is closely related to socioeconomic status and sanitary conditions of the population, since the transmission occurs predominantly via the faecal-oral route. Although both nosological entities have a benign course in most cases, health education and health promotion represent promising strategies for improving the living conditions of susceptible populations.

Multiplex polymerase chain reaction test for the diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis A

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The early diagnosis of acute hepatitis A (AHA) is hindered because serum IgM against hepatitis A virus (HAV) can yield false-negative results during the window period. This study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) kit for HAV RNA for the diagnosis of AHA. METHODS: Samples were collected from 136 patients with acute severe hepatitis at their admission to Asan Medical Center between June 2010 and July 2010. Samples were analyzed for serum IgM anti-HAV using an immunoassay test and for qualitative HAV RNA using the Magicplex HepaTrio PCR test kit. The diagnostic accuracies of these methods were tested on the basis of clinical and laboratory diagnoses of AHA. RESULTS: The concordance rate and kappa value between IgM anti-HAV and HAV RNA PCR were 88.2% and 0.707, respectively. For the diagnosis of AHA, the sensitivity and specificity of IgM anti-HAV were 90.7% and 100%, respectively, when an "equivocal" result was regarded as positive; and 79.1% and 100%, respectively, when an "equivocal" result was regarded as negative. The sensitivity and specificity of HAV RNA PCR were 81.4% and 100%, respectively. All four patients with negative IgM anti-HAV and positive HAV RNA PCR results and all four patients with equivocal IgM anti-HAV RNA and positive HAV RNA PCR results were eventually diagnosed with AHA. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative HAV RNA PCR test has an equivalent diagnostic accuracy for AHA compared to IgM anti-HAV and may be more sensitive during the window period.

Optimal time for repeating the IgM anti-hepatitis A virus antibody test in acute hepatitis A patients with a negative initial test / 대한간학회지

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The nonspecific clinical presentation of acute hepatitis A (AHA) mandates the detection of anti-hepatitis A virus IgM antibodies (IgM anti-HAV) in the serum for obtaining a definitive diagnosis. However, IgM anti-HAV might not be present during the early phase of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal time for repeating the IgM anti-HAV test (HAV test) in AHA patients with a negative initial test. METHODS: In total, 261 patients hospitalized with AHA were enrolled for this retrospective study. AHA was diagnosed when the test for IgM anti-HAV was positive and the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was > or =400 IU/L. Repeat HAV test was conducted after 1-2 weeks if the initial HAV test was negative but AHA was still clinically suspected. RESULTS: The results of the initial HAV test were negative in 28 (10.7%) patients. The intervals from symptom onset to the initial-HAV-test day and from the peak-ALT day to the initial-HAV-test day were significantly shorter in the negative-initial-HAV-test group, but on multivariate analysis only the latter was significantly associated with negative results for the initial HAV test (beta=-0.978; odds ratio [95% confidence interval]=0.376 [0.189-0.747]; P=0.005). The HAV test was positive in all patients when it was performed at least 2 days after the peak-ALT day. CONCLUSIONS: The results of HAV tests were significantly associated with the interval from the peak-ALT day to the HAV-test day. The optimal time for repeating the HAV test in clinically suspicious AHA patients with a negative initial HAV test appears to be at least 2 days after the peak-ALT day.

Clinical Features of Re-Emerging Hepatitis A: An Analysis of Patients Hospitalized during an Urban Epidemic in Korea

From April 2008 to November 2008, many cases of hepatitis A were reported in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province in Korea. Furthermore, the rate of severe or fulminant hepatitis have significantly increased during the latest epidemic (13.4% vs. 5.2%, p=0.044). Therefore, widespread use of vaccine is warranted to reduce the burden of hepatitis A in Korea.