[Frequency of hepatitis A virus antibodies in patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Iran]

ABSTRACT

Superinfection of hepatitis A in chronic hepatitis B and C may worsen the course of disease. This study attempted to study frequency of hepatitis A virus antibodies in patients with hepatitis B and hepatitis C. 115 hepatitis C and 56 hepatitis B patients who visited the Hepatitis Association of Hamedan province during 2004-2005 were enrolled. Hepatitis A virus antibodies [IgM, IgG] by ELISA, WBC, hemoglobin, platelet, AST and ALT were evaluated. 32 patients with hepatitis B and 39 patients with hepatitis C refused the study. In 71 [85.5%] patients with hepatitis B, IgG-HAV-Ab and in one patient IgM-HAV-Ab was detected. 36 [92.3%] patients with hepatitis C had IgG-anti-HAV. Due to high frequency of HAV Ab, it is preferable to evaluate patients with hepatitis B and C for HAV-Ab instead of vaccination of all patients