Possible aetiological role of hepatitis E virus in acute non-A, non-B, non-C hepatitis in Saudi Arabia

Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia: A Population-Based Seroprevalence Study

BACKGROUND

The Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis worldwide. Little is known about the seroprevalence of HEV in the general population of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional HEV seroprevalence study was conducted in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were detected in sera using an in-house ELISA. The frequency of HEV sageerology and its correlation with demographic, and environmental factors were evaluated.

RESULTS

Enrollment consisted of 1329 individuals, ages ranged from 8 to 88 years, the mean age was 30.17 years, the median age was 28yrs, and the male: female ratio was 1.15. The overall seroprevalence was 23.8% (316/1329). Males had significantly higher seroprevalence than females (66.1 vs. 33.9%; p < 0.001). Seroprevalence had significant correlations with age, occupation, and lack of regular water supply and housing conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first HEV community-based seroprevalence study from Saudi Arabia. Results show that the HEV is endemic in Makkah and affects all age groups and occupations. HEV affects more males than females and those living in crowded accommodations without a regular supply of water. Further studies are required across all regions of Saudi Arabia to determine the country's seroprevalence of active or past infection using tests for HEV IgG, HEV IgM antibodies and/or HEV RNA and underlying determinants of transmission.

Comparison of clinical manifestations and epidemiology between acute hepatitis A and acute hepatitis E in Taiwan

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Acute hepatitis A (AHA) and acute hepatitis E (AHE) are endemic in developing countries. They share similar transmission routes and clinical manifestations. To compare the differences in epidemiology, clinical picture and prognosis between these two enterically transmitted forms of hepatitis, we enrolled 58 consecutive AHA or AHE patients (42 men and 16 women; age 16-74 years) from January 1990 to April 2001.

RESULTS

In comparison to AHA, patients with AHE were older (56.2 +/- 15.4 vs 30.7 +/- 11.0 years, P < 0.0001), and more frequently had a history of travel within 3 months before onset of illness (68.8 vs 30.8%, P = 0.003). In laboratory data, AHE patients had lower serum levels of albumin (3.4 +/- 0.4 vs 3.8 +/- 0.4 g/dL, P = 0.016), alanine aminotransferase (1912 +/- 1587 vs 3023 +/- 1959 U/L, P = 0.015), and aspartate aminotransferase (1681 +/- 1444 vs 2374 +/- 2869 U/L, P = 0.24), but a higher serum bilirubin level (17.8 +/- 12.3 vs 8.7 +/- 5.0 mg/dL, P = 0.003) than AHA patients. Moreover, five (15.6%) patients with AHE compared with none with AHA died. This probably indicates that AHE had a worse outcome than AHA in our study. In analysis of epidemiological factors, older age of onset of illness was the only significant predicator of outcome. From an epidemiological survey, most AHE patients were imported while most AHA patients were not. However, native AHE and imported AHA did occur in Taiwan.

CONCLUSION

Patients with AHE in Taiwan had older age of onset, more records of traveling history, and poorer clinical manifestations than those with AHA, and age seemed to be the most important factor to influence outcome.