SHORT-TERM IGM AND IGG ANTIBODY-RESPONSES TO HEPATITIS-E VIRUS-INFECTION

53 adult patients with acute hepatitis caused by hepatitis E virus wer e identified by the presence of IgM antibody to hepatitis E virus, and followed for 12 months to evaluate the kinetics of anti-HEV antibodie s. All but 1 female Kuwaiti patient mere expatriate workers from the I ndian subcontinent, temporarily working in Kuwait, Follow-up samples o btained at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months were evalutated for IgM and Ige antib odies to hepatitis E virus. IgM-class antibodies to hepatitis E virus were detectable in 12/27 (44%) patients at 1 month, in 0/26 at 3 month s, in 0/8 at 6 months and 0/6 at 12 months. IgG antibodies to hepatiti s E virus were detectable in 46/47 (98%) at onset, 26/27 (96%) at 1 mo nth, in 26/29 (90%) at 3 months, 16/16 (100%) at 6 months and 8/8 (100 %) at 12 months of follow-up. This study suggests that IgM antibodies to hepatitis E virus decline rapidly after an acute infection but Ige antibodies to hepatitis E virus persists for at least 1 year in many p atients.