Related Experiment Videos
Hepatitis A and Indian childhood cirrhosis
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|November 1, 1979
Insights
Antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was detected in half of children with Indian childhood cirrhosis. This prevalence was similar to that found in healthy children, suggesting no direct link.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
Background:
- Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC) is a progressive liver disease in children.
- The etiology of ICC remains largely unknown.
- Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential role of hepatitis A virus (HAV) in the pathogenesis of Indian childhood cirrhosis (ICC).
- To determine the prevalence of anti-HAV antibodies in children with ICC compared to controls.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study design.
- Detection of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) using serological assays.
- Comparison of anti-HAV prevalence between ICC patients and age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
Main Results:
- Antibodies to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) were found in 50% of patients with Indian childhood cirrhosis.
- The prevalence of anti-HAV in ICC patients was not significantly different from that in the control group (50% vs. control prevalence).
Conclusions:
- The study found no significant difference in anti-HAV prevalence between children with Indian childhood cirrhosis and controls.
- These findings suggest that hepatitis A virus infection is unlikely to be a primary etiological factor in Indian childhood cirrhosis.
Abstract:
Antibody to hepatitis A virus (anti-HAV) was found in 50% of patients with Indian childhood cirrhosis; this was not significantly different from the prevalence of anti-HAV in age- and sex-matched controls.