Increased Prevalence of Antibodies to Hepatitis E Virus in Patients with Neurocysticercosis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2024 Apr 23;110(6):1210-1213. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0856. Print 2024 Jun 5.

Abstract

We explored the association between serological status for hepatitis E and neurocysticercosis (NCC) in neurologic patients attending a national neurological referral center in Lima, Perú, between the years 2008 and 2012. Anti-hepatitis E antibodies were evaluated in patients with and without NCC, and a control group of rural general population. Anti-hepatitis E IgG was found in 23.8% of patients with NCC, compared with 14.3% in subjects without NCC from a general rural population (P = 0.023) and 14.4% in subjects with neurological complaints without NCC (P = 0.027). Seropositive patients had a median age of 44 years compared with 30 years in seronegative patients (P <0.001). No significant differences in sex, region of residence, or liver enzyme values were found. Seropositivity to hepatitis E was frequent in this Peruvian population and higher in patients with NCC, suggesting shared common routes of infection.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Hepatitis Antibodies / blood
  • Hepatitis E virus* / immunology
  • Hepatitis E* / epidemiology
  • Hepatitis E* / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neurocysticercosis* / complications
  • Neurocysticercosis* / epidemiology
  • Neurocysticercosis* / immunology
  • Peru / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Hepatitis Antibodies