Objective   To investigate the incidence of hepatitis A and the differences between hepatitis A in non-HBV carriers and in HBV carriers.     Methods   The clinical characteristics of 176 cases with hepatitis A were analyzed who admitted in our institute from April 2004 to December 2009. There were 59 cases positive to anti-HAV IgM and 92 cases positive to anti-HAV IgM and HBsAg. The hepatitis functions

includin

g alanine aminotransferase (ALT)

aspartate aminotransferase (AST)

total bilirubin (TBIL) and direct bilirubin (DBIL) were measured. And the differences of hepatitis A in non-HBV carriers and in HBV carriers were compared. Upper limit of normal (ULN) of ALT and TBIL was used to categorize the patients.    Results   Incidence of hepatitis A were common in adults. The ratio of male to female was 2.4∶1. Hepatitis A in HBV carriers accouted for 52.3% (92/187)

and the other 25 hepatitis A patients were accompanied with hepatitis C

D

E

Epstein-Barr virus infection

autoimmune/alcoholic hepatitis

or intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy. There were more ATL  5 to 10ULN

TBIL 10ULN

and severe hepatitis in HBV carriers than in non-HBV carrier (Chi square=8.127

4.159

6.999

P0.05). More ALT10ULN and TBIL 5 to 10ULN were found in non-HBV carrier than in HBV carriers (Chi square=6.903

5.033

P0.05). In HBV carrier

the ratio of HBeAg negative to positive was 2.1∶1

with former accounting for 67.4%

and the ratio of HBV- DNA≥10

4

to HBV DNA10

4

was 1.8∶1

with the later accouting for 34.8%. The categorization with HBeAg and HBV DNA amount had no significant difference (P0.05).    Conclusion   The hepatitis A in HBV carriers are more common than hepatitis A in non non-HBV carriers. Hepatitis A in HBV carriers may cause a heavier liver injury and easier to develop into severe hepatitis than that in non-HBV carriers.