Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate anti‐HEV antibody profiles in urine specimens in comparison to corresponding serum samples to assess the utility of urine as a clinical specimen. Paired serum and urine specimens from 71 hepatitis E patients, 33 non‐E hepatitis patients, 63 patients with nonhepatic diseases, and 26 healthy individuals were tested by recombinant HEV protein (55 kD)‐based indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Uronegativity for anti‐HEV IgM was noted in 71 (100%) serologically confirmed patients with hepatitis E. Hepatitis E patients (10/10) showed urinary absence or very low levels of total IgM by capture ELISA, suggesting absence or low levels of filtration, and/or local synthesis, and/or transudation of IgM in urine during infection. When these patients were tested for total IgG and IgA, microquantities of immunoglobulins were noted in all urine samples (10/10 for each). However, the proportions of uropositivity for anti‐HEV IgG and IgA in hepatitis E patients were low and indicated only 21.42% and 49.33% concordance with seropositivity, respectively. Control groups also showed low and variable uropositivity for anti‐HEV IgG and IgA. Overall, HEV‐specific antibodies exhibited by serum in recent and past infections were not found in urine. The study demonstrated the inadequacy of urine specimens for detection of hepatitis E antibodies. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 16:137–142, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Keywords: hepatitis E, anti‐HEV antibodies, urinary antibodies, immunoglobulins, protein
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