Differential Diagnosis of Hepatotropic and Non-Hepatotropic Viruses in Patients at the Regional Virological Reference Laboratory. Maracaibo-Venezuela, 2007

Abstract

Viral hepatitis is a public health problem worldwide, caused by different etiologic agents, such as hepatitis A, B, C, D, E, F or G. However, cases have been reported related to liver disease caused by hepatotropic viruses, such as cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein Barr Virus (EBV). The aim of this study was to establish the differential diagnosis of hepatotropic and non-hepatotropic viruses in patients with symptoms and signs suggestive of liver infection in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, 2007. 268 blood samples were collected from patients at different health centers in the city of Maracaibo, who recurred to the Regional Viral Reference Laboratory. The presence of IgM antibodies to hepatitis A virus (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), CMV and EBV was detected by ELISA. The results indicate a high incidence of HAV 118/268 (44.03%), followed by HBV 5/268 (1.86%) and the absence of HCV. For non-hepatotropic viruses, 4.48% (12/268) were positive for EBV and 9.7% (26/268) for CMV. For the above-mentioned viruses, 39.92% (107/268) are considered negative. This study suggests that CMV and EBV viruses are often involved with liver damage and should be considered as possible etiologic agents for any case of hepatitis.

Keywords

• citomegalovirus
• virus Epstein Barr
• hepatitis