Abstract

MANCILLA, Silvia; ZAMBRANA, Silvia  and  TERCEROS, Patricia. HEPATITIS E, ¿DEBEMOS PREOCUPARNOS?. Vis cienti. [online]. 2009, vol.1, n.2, pp. 69-77. ISSN 2222-4361.

The hepatitis E virus has been identified as a viral agent that causes acute hepatitis; it has high incidence in adults and cause important mortality in pregnant woman. The present study determined the case frequency of acute Hepatitis E and the immunologic memory against this infection, by the determination of specific antibodies IgM and IgG against HEV by ELISA. The study include 123 patients that assisted at SELADIS institute during 2006, with clinical diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis and serology negative for hepatitis A, B and C. The results showed an 11 % (n=14) of reactivity to IgM (acute infection), 13 % (n=16) of reactivity to IgG (immunologic memory) and only 2% (n=2) of reactivity to both markers. The age group most affected was patients older than 21 years; the distribution of reactive markers was uniform between man and woman, and an important number of cases were reported at altiplan and valley region; elevate frequency of cases were reported at spring and winter.

Keywords : Hepatitis E; serologic markers; ELISA.