Retrospective serological analysis of hepatitis E patients: a long-term follow-up study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the persistence and protective role o f antibodies to hepatitis E virus (anti-HEV) after natural hepatitis E infe ction. A retrospective analysis of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-HEV was perf ormed in 37 patients followed-up for 5 years after epidemics of HEV. Two pa tients with sporadic hepatitis E (HE) were followed-up for 12 and 8 years. All patients infected during epidemics of HE were positive for IgG anti-HEV at 5 years of follow-up (geometric mean titre: 174.75). The two patients w ith sporadic HE were positive for IgG anti-HEV at the end of 12 and 8 years of follow-up (the IgG anti-HEV titre was 1 : 200 in each patient). This st udy showed protection against disease by antibodies to HEV. It was therefor e concluded that hepatitis E may be preventable by an efficacious vaccine.