CONTRIBUTION OF HEV AND HCV IN CAUSING FULMINANT NON-A, NON-B-HEPATITIS IN WESTERN INDIA

During 1990, 38 patients with fulminant non-A, non-B hepatitis (NANB) died in Government Medical College Hospital, Aurangabad, Serum samples from these patients were tested for antibodies to hepatitis C virus ( anti-HCV) and IgM antibodies to hepatitis E virus (IgM-anti-HEV). All samples were also subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of HBV DNA, HCV RNA and HEV RNA. None of the patients had c irculating anti-HCV antibodies; three had HCV RNA. Based on anti-HEV-I gM positivity 14 patients (37%) could be diagnosed as suffering from h epatitis E. None was positive for HEV RNA. In the absence of serologic al markers, HBV DNA was present in three cases. None of the HBV DNA po sitive patients had anti-delta antibodies. Dual infections (HBV with H EV, and HBV with HCV) were seen in two cases. The aetiology of half of the NANB cases could not be assigned to the known hepatitis viruses u sing current techniques.