| BRIEF COMMUNICATION |
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| Year : 2009 | Volume
: 27
| Issue : 2 | Page : 139-141 |
Seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus immunoglobulin G and M antibodies in adults: A hospital-based study
K Bashir1, N Hussain1, S Hasnain1, S Elahi2
1 Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore-54 590, Pakistan
2 Centre for Nuclear Medicine, PO Box 53; Mayo Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan
Correspondence Address:
K Bashir
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Punjab, Quaid-e-Azam Campus, Lahore-54 590
Pakistan
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/0255-0857.49427
Sporadic cases of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection occur throughout the year in Pakistan. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of HEV immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgM antibodies in 93 hepatitis B and C-negative patients as such patients are not routinely tested further despite having signs and symptoms of hepatitis. Anti-HEV IgG and IgM were detected by the enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay technique. Among them five patients (5.4%) were positive for HEV IgG and IgM, with an average age of 30.95 ± 15.35 years. Hepatitis E infection was independent of the sex. Liver function tests of hepatitis E-positive IgG and IgM patients showed increased values of serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase, serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin that indicate damaged hapatocytes and malfunctioning of the liver.
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