Abstract

ROVIRA, C et al. Prevalence of serologic markers for viral hepatitis in a selected population: Experience of a university service. Years 2000-2007. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2009, vol.7, n.1, pp.20-26. ISSN 1812-9528.

Currently, several viral agents are described as causative agents of hepatitises being the most common HBV, HAV, HCV, HDV and HEV. Each one of them has different transmission cycles, incubation periods and clinical patterns. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of viral markers of hepatitis in a population with clinical suspicion of hepatitis from 2000 to 2007. In this observational descriptive study, 756 patients, to whom the dosage of two or more viral markers had been requested occasionally, that attended the Immunology Department of the Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud from 2000 to 2007 were studied. The patients were 1 to 88 years old with an average age of 36±17 years. All the serologic determinations were performed by ELISA methodology (Human - Germany, Adaltis - Italy). The 4.5% (28/617) had HbsAg (+), 23.4% (11/47) had anti-HBs antibodies (+), 17.3% (9/52) had anti-HBcore (+), 37.9% (52/137) had anti-HAV IgM (+) and 6.6% (11/166) had anti-HCV (+). Co-infection of HBV and HAV in one patient and of HCV and HAV in another patient were found. The most requested viral marker was HBsAg and the data obtained indicate an intermediate endemic status. In this population the high prevalence of IgM antibodies against hepatitis A virus (characteristic of acute phase) stands out. This finding agrees with the consideration of our country as a highly endemic zone. This study remarks the necessity of monitoring viral hepatitis, specially the immunopreventable ones in order to avoid the development of chronic diseases affecting the quality of life.

Keywords : HBV; HAV and HCV serologic markers.

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