[Hepatitis E virus infection in Albania]

Acute HEV in Albania make up 35.7% of acute non A-non B hepatitis and 2.4% of all acute viral hepatitis cases, affecting women more with a 2:1 ratio, and are described more frequently in adults (73.3%) older than 35 years. In the general population (control group), the prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies increases progressively with age, from 1.2% in the younger than 9 years, to 17.7% among the over 60, in general the average is of 9.7%. A statistical comparison of anti-HEV antibodies in healthy persons younger than 20, and those 20 years old and over is significant (p < 0.0001). HEV transmission by blood transfusion, mentioned by some authors, could be related to the infection of blood donors. We have not found any positive cases in thalassemic children who received between 24 and 169 transfusions. The prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies in pregnant women is lower than in the general population (p < 0.0001). In patients with chronic liver disease, in comparison with the general population (control group), there is no statistical significant difference (p = NS).