Koshy A, Grover S, Hyams K C, Shabrawy M A, Pacsa A, al-Nakib B, Zaidi S A, al-Anezi A A, al-Mufti S, Burans J, Carl M, Richards A L
Thuniyan Al-Ghanim Gastroenterology Center, Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait.
Scand J Infect Dis. 1996;28(5):439-41. doi: 10.3109/00365549609037935.
53 adult patients with acute hepatitis caused by hepatitis E virus were identified by the presence of IgM antibody to hepatitis E virus, and followed for 12 months to evaluate the kinetics of anti-HEV antibodies. All but 1 female Kuwaiti patient were expatriate workers from the Indian subcontinent, temporarily working in Kuwait. Follow-up samples obtained at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months were evaluated for IgM and IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus. IgM-class antibodies to hepatitis E virus were detectable in 12/27 (44%) patients at 1 months, in 0/26 at 3 months, in 0/8 at 6 months and 0/6 at 12 months. IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus were detectable in 46/47 (98%) at onset, 26/27 (96%) at 1 month, 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 IgG antibodies to hepatitis E virus persists for at least 1 year in many patients.
