Background: To investigate distribution of acute hepatitis A, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and hepatitis E in Beijing area.
Methods: Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for detection of anti-HAV immunoglobulin M (IgM), HBsAg/anti-HBc IgM, anti HCV IgM/IgG and anti-HEV IgM/IgG. The samples were collected from the patients with sporadic hepatitis in Beijing city between 1995 and 2000.
Results: The total positive rate of IgM antibodies to the four hepatitis-viruses was 72.4% (155) among 214 patients with sporadic acute hepatitis; the positive rates for the 4 viruses were 29% (45) for anti-HAV, 18.1% (28) for anti-HBc, 3.9% (6) for anti-HCV and 49% (76) for anti-HEV among 155 patients with acute viral hepatitis. Nine patients were coinfected with two hepatitis viruses.
Conclusions: 78% of patients with sporadic acute hepatitis were caused by enterically transmitted hepatitis viruses (A and E) in Beijing between 1995 and 2000, Hepatitis E had the highest rate. Coinfection with two hepatitis virus was found in the patient with intravenous drug abusers and cirrhosis or acute hepatitis.