BACKGROUND: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. We have investigated the risk factors for HEV infection among solid-organ transplant recipients and the characteristics of these infections. METHODS: We performed serological tests, quantified the virus, and genotyped the virus in plasma samples. We performed a case-control study with HEV-infected patients and control participants matched for sex and age who were recruited from a population of solid-organ transplant recipients with no markers of HEV infection. RESULTS: We investigated 38 consecutive cases of HEV genotype 3 infection. Twenty-two (58%) of these 38 patients developed a chronic infection. The acute-phase aminotransferase levels were higher in the patients who cleared the virus than in those who developed chronic infections. The anti-HEV immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M profiles and HEV RNA concentration in patients who cleared the virus were similar to those in patients who developed a chronic infection. A logistic regression analysis of 37 case patients and 148 control participants indicated that the only factor independently associated with HEV infection was the consumption of game meat (68% of case patients vs 47% of control participants; odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-5.15). CONCLUSION: Immunocompromised patients should avoid eating insufficiently cooked game meat or pork products so as to reduce the risk of HEV infection and chronic liver disease.
BACKGROUND:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. We have investigated the risk factors for HEV infection among solid-organ transplant recipients and the characteristics of these infections. METHODS: We performed serological tests, quantified the virus, and genotyped the virus in plasma samples. We performed a case-control study with HEV-infectedpatients and control participants matched for sex and age who were recruited from a population of solid-organ transplant recipients with no markers of HEV infection. RESULTS: We investigated 38 consecutive cases of HEV genotype 3 infection. Twenty-two (58%) of these 38 patients developed a chronic infection. The acute-phase aminotransferase levels were higher in the patients who cleared the virus than in those who developed chronic infections. The anti-HEV immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M profiles and HEV RNA concentration in patients who cleared the virus were similar to those in patients who developed a chronic infection. A logistic regression analysis of 37 case patients and 148 control participants indicated that the only factor independently associated with HEV infection was the consumption of game meat (68% of case patients vs 47% of control participants; odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-5.15). CONCLUSION: Immunocompromised patients should avoid eating insufficiently cooked game meat or pork products so as to reduce the risk of HEV infection and chronic liver disease.
Authors: S B Willemse; D L Bezuur; P Blom; E Kneppers; J Verheij; H L Zaaijer; M D Hazenberg Journal: Bone Marrow Transplant Date: 2016-12-19 Impact factor: 5.483
Authors: P K Sue; N Pisanic; C D Heaney; T Mixson-Hayden; S Kamili; K Nelson; K B Schwarz; M Forman; A Valsamakis; J Ticehurst; W Karnsakul Journal: Transpl Infect Dis Date: 2015-04 Impact factor: 2.228