Læknablaðið - 01.03.2018, Blaðsíða 15
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ENGLISH SUMMARY
Introduction: Hepatitis A virus (HAV) epidemics occurred repeatedly
in Iceland in the early 20th century, but since then few cases have been
reported and no epidemics since 1952. The latest Icelandic studies on
HAV from around 1990 showed low incidence of infection and de -
creasing prevalence of antibodies. The objective of this study was to
determine the incidence, clinical presentation and origin of HAV, abroad
or in Iceland.
Material and methods: A retrospective search was undertaken on all
patients with positive anti-HAV IgM during the 11 years period of 2006-
2016 in the virological database of the National University Hospital of
Iceland. Clinical data was collected from medical records on symptoms
at diagnosis, blood test results and possible route of transmission.
Results: A total of 12 individuals were diagnosed with acute hepatitis
A during the period and 6691 HAV total andibody tests and 1984 HAV
IgM antibody tests were performed. Nine (75%) had been abroad within
7 weeks from initial symptoms. The most common symptoms were
jaundice (83%), fever (67%) and nausea and/or vomiting (58%). 50%
were admitted to a hospital. 42% had elevated INR/PT. Everyone sur-
vived without complications.
Conclusion: Annually, approximately one case of acute hepatitis A was
diagnosed in Iceland during the study period but a very high number of
antibody tests were performed. The majority of cases occurred among
individuals who had recently been abroad. If patients have jaundice,
fever and nausea, testing for HAV infection should be undertaken. HAV
is not endemic in Iceland.
Hepatitis A in Iceland
Hallfríður Kristinsdóttir1, Arthúr Löve1,2, Einar Stefán Björnsson1,3
1Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, 2Department of Virology, Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland, 3Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology,
Landspitali, The National University Hospital of Iceland.
Key words: hepatitis A, liver tests, viral hepatitis, epidemiology, prognosis, Iceland.
Correspondence: Einar Björnsson, einarsb@landspitali.is