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The role of hepatitis E virus in acute sporadic non-A, non-B hepatitis

Die Bedeutung des Hepatitis E-Virus bei akuter Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis

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Summary

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the cause of enterically transmitted non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. Water-borne epidemics have been reported in many developing countries primarily affecting young and middle-aged adults. To determine the role of HEV in acute sporadic NANB hepatitis, we have studied the profiles of anti-HEV IgG in the sera of patients previously diagnosed for NANB hepatitis. We tested the sera of 53 patients with acute NANB hepatitis and 100 healthy people as a control group for anti-HEV IgG. Thirty-nine of the 53 patients (73.3%) and none of the control group were positive for HEV infection, according to results shown by ELISA. This result suggests that HEV is a common cause of acute sporadic NANB hepatitis in Turkey. Further studies are needed in the other regions to determine the true prevalence of HEV infection in Turkey.

Zusammenfassung

Das Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) ist der Erreger der enteral übertragenen Non-A, Non-B (NANB)-Hepatitis. Epidemien durch verseuchtes Wasser wurden aus vielen Entwicklungsländern berichtet, sie betrafen vor allem Jugendliche und Erwachsene mittleren Alters. Um die Rolle des HEV bei der akuten NANB-Hepatitis zu bestimmen, haben wir die anti-HEV IgG Profile der Seren in früher als NANB-Hepatitis diagnostizierten Fällen bestimmt. Wir testeten die Seren von 53 Patienten mit akuter NANB-Hepatitis und von 100 gesunden Kontrollpersonen auf anti-HEV IgG. Eine HEV-Infektion wurde nach den Ergebnissen des ELISA bei 39 der 53 Patienten (73,3%), aber bei keiner Person der Kontrollgruppe festgestellt. Die Ergebnisse lassen annehmen, daß HEV eine häufige Ursache der sporadischen NANB-Hepatitis in der Türkei ist. Weitere Studien in anderen Regionen sind erforderlich, um die wirkliche Prävalenz der HEV-Infektion in der Türkei zu bestimmen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080, Trabzon

    I. Köksal M. D., K. Aydin M. D. & B. Kardes M. D.

  2. Dept. of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    H. Turgut M. D. & F. Murt M. D.

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  1. I. Köksal M. D.
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  2. K. Aydin M. D.
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  3. B. Kardes M. D.
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  4. H. Turgut M. D.
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  5. F. Murt M. D.
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Köksal, I., Aydin, K., Kardes, B. et al. The role of hepatitis E virus in acute sporadic non-A, non-B hepatitis. Infection 22, 407–410 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01715498

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