HEPATITIS-E VIRUS-ANTIBODIES AMONG PATIENTS WITH HEMOPHILIA, BLOOD-DONORS, AND HEPATITIS PATIENTS

The presence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus (HEV) was studied amon g hemophiliacs, blood donors, and hepatitis patients. Four of 296 (1.4 %) hemophiliacs and 5 of 1,275 (0.4%) donors were confirmed as positiv e for HEV antibodies (difference was not significant: P = 0.07). Paren teral transmission of HEV to hemophiliacs was thus rare or nonexistent . Seven of 187 hepatitis patients were found with HEV antibodies (IgG and IgM). Six persons fell ill shortly after arriving from HEV-endemic countries. The seventh patient, without a history of travel, represen ts a case of nontropical hepatitis E. Consequently, hepatitis E should be considered in patients suffering from acute non-ABC hepatitis, eve n in industrialized countries. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.