[A study on the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of hepatitis E in Tianjin area]

Using ELISA to analyse 192 patients with hepatitis E (HE) on their clinical and epidemiologyic characteristics, in Tianjin Area. Result showed that 20 percent of the total patients diagnosed as viral hepatitis diseases belonged to HE. The majority of HE patients was middle-aged male with .78.6 percent of them infected through alimentary canal. Five of them (2.6%) had a history of recent blood transfusion. The clinical picture of HE was similar to HA, showing only the increase of ALT and Bil, but no chronic process. The levels of ALT and Bil in super-infection were lower than those seen in simple HE (P < 0.01). Data showed that Hepatitis E in Tianjin Area was sporadic and the virus might be transmitted through blood transfusion. Blood screening program for HE virus was discussed. The author advanced the idea that HEV and other virus might restrain from each other.