Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Jan 14, 2011; 17(2): 236-241
Published online Jan 14, 2011. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v17.i2.236
Seroprevalence of anti-HAV among patients with chronic viral liver disease
Hyun Chin Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Yu Jin Kim, Moon Seok Choi, Joon Hyeok Lee, Kwang Cheol Koh, Byung Chul Yoo, Hee Jung Son, Seon Woo Kim
Hyun Chin Cho, Seung Woon Paik, Yu Jin Kim, Moon Seok Choi, Joon Hyeok Lee, Kwang Cheol Koh, Byung Chul Yoo, Division of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, South Korea
Hee Jung Son, Division of Gastroenterology, Center for Health Promotion, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, South Korea
Seon Woo Kim, Biostatics Team, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 135-710, South Korea
Author contributions: Paik SW provided substantial contributions to conception and design, and approved the final version of the manuscript; Cho HC contributed to drafting the article, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of data; Kim YJ, Choi MS, Lee JH, Koh KC, Yoo BC and Son HJ contributed to revising the manuscript and providing data; Kim SW provided contributions to statistical analysis and interpretation of data.
Correspondence to: Seung Woon Paik, MD, Professor, Division of Gastroenterology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 50, Irwon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 135-710, South Korea. sw.paik@samsung.com
Telephone: +82-2-34103409 Fax: +82-2-34106983
Received: August 14, 2010
Revised: October 15, 2010
Accepted: October 22, 2010
Published online: January 14, 2011
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the current seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibodies in patients with chronic viral liver disease in Korea. We also tried to identify the factors affecting the prevalence of HAV antibodies.

METHODS: We performed an analysis of the clinical records of 986 patients (mean age: 49 ± 9 years, 714 males/272 females) with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection who had undergone HAV antibody testing between January 2008 and December 2009.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of IgG anti-HAV was 86.61% (854/986) in patients with chronic liver disease and was 88.13% (869/986) in age- and gender-matched patients from the Center for Health Promotion. The anti-HAV prevalence was 80.04% (405/506) in patients with chronic hepatitis B, 86.96% (20/23) in patients with chronic hepatitis C, 93.78% (422/450) in patients with HBV related liver cirrhosis, and 100% (7/7) in patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis. The anti-HAV prevalence according to the decade of age was as follows: 20s (6.67%), 30s (50.86%), 40s (92.29%), 50s (97.77%), and 60s (100%). The anti-HAV prevalence was significantly higher in patients older than 40 years compared with that in patients younger than 40 years of age. Multivariable analysis showed that age ≥ 40 years, female gender and metropolitan cities as the place of residence were independent risk factors for IgG anti-HAV seropositivity.

CONCLUSION: Most Korean patients with chronic liver disease and who are above 40 years of age have already been exposed to hepatitis A virus.

Keywords: Chronic hepatitis B; Chronic hepatitis C; Hepatitis A virus; Korea; Seroprevalence