Objective: To investigate the age range, liver function damage and prognosis of patients with sporadic acute hepatitis A and E in Beijing.
Methods: Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used to detect anti-HAV and anti-HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM). Serum samples were collected from the patients with sporadic acute viral hepatitis in Beijing from January 1995 to June 2000.
Results: The total Positive rate for anti-HAV and anti-HEV IgM was 55.2% (112) in 203 patients with acute hepatitis, of whom 22.2% (45 patients) and 33.0% (67) were positive for anti-HAV and anti-HEV respectively. The duration of anti-HEV IgM was 45-60 days and that of anti-HAV IgM was at least 2-3 months. The patients with acute hepatitis A and hepatitis E all experienced jaundice and a rising of liver enzyme, but did not develop chronic hepatitis or died.
Conclusion: Acute hepatitis A as well as acute hepatitis E plays an important role in sporadic enterically transmitted hepatitis in Beijing.