Prevalence of antibodies to Hepatitis A antigen in sera from patients with haematological malignancies

J Med Virol. 1981;8(1):49-53. doi: 10.1002/jmv.1890080104.

Abstract

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A (anti-HA) was investigated in patients attending a clinic for haematological malignancies. Patients were divided into three age groups; the number with antibodies in each group was recorded. Of the 130 patients studied, 44% of those aged 4-26, 70% of those aged 27-50, and 83% of those aged 51-76, were positive. This study identifies patients attending a clinic for haematological malignancies (ie, patients with immunologic deficiencies) as a group of people having a high prevalence of anti-HA. In the oldest group (51-76), urban patients had a higher prevalence than rural patients - a pattern similar to that observed in elderly Red Cross blood donors in a previous study. Seroconversion was noted in six patients, three of whom seroconverted from anti-HA-negative to anti HA-positive within 12 months of the initial visit to the clinic.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Hepatovirus / immunology*
  • Hodgkin Disease / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Leukemia / immunology*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / immunology*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nova Scotia
  • Radioimmunoassay

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral