INTRODUCTION: In developed countries autochthonous hepatitis E infection is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 or 4 and mainly affects middle aged/elderly men. Host factors might explain why older men develop clinically overt disease. METHODS: Retrospective review of 53 patients with symptomatic autochthonous hepatitis E infection to determine putative host risk factors. Patients were compared with 564 controls with adjustment for age and sex. Anti-HEV seroprevalence was determined in controls and 189 patients with chronic liver disease. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 62.4 years, 73.6% were men. Compared with controls, patients with hepatitis E were more likely to drink at least 22 U alcohol/week (OR=9.4; 95% confidence interval=3.8-25.0; P<0.001). The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in controls increased with age (P<0.001) but was similar in men and women. There was no association between alcohol consumption and anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in the control group. There was no difference in the anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence between the controls and patients with chronic liver disease of all aetiologies, but seroprevalence was higher in controls (13.8%) than patients with alcoholic liver disease (4.8%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Clinically apparent hepatitis E infection is more common in individuals who consume at least 22 U alcohol/week. Patients with established chronic alcoholic liver disease have a low seroprevalence compared with controls. The reason for this observation is uncertain, but patients with alcoholic liver disease have clinically severe disease with a high mortality when exposed to HEV. The low seroprevalence in this group may represent a 'culled' population.
INTRODUCTION: In developed countries autochthonous hepatitis E infection is caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 or 4 and mainly affects middle aged/elderly men. Host factors might explain why older men develop clinically overt disease. METHODS: Retrospective review of 53 patients with symptomatic autochthonous hepatitis E infection to determine putative host risk factors. Patients were compared with 564 controls with adjustment for age and sex. Anti-HEV seroprevalence was determined in controls and 189 patients with chronic liver disease. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 62.4 years, 73.6% were men. Compared with controls, patients with hepatitis E were more likely to drink at least 22 U alcohol/week (OR=9.4; 95% confidence interval=3.8-25.0; P<0.001). The seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in controls increased with age (P<0.001) but was similar in men and women. There was no association between alcohol consumption and anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence in the control group. There was no difference in the anti-HEV IgG seroprevalence between the controls and patients with chronic liver disease of all aetiologies, but seroprevalence was higher in controls (13.8%) than patients with alcoholic liver disease (4.8%, P=0.04). CONCLUSION: Clinically apparent hepatitis E infection is more common in individuals who consume at least 22 U alcohol/week. Patients with established chronic alcoholic liver disease have a low seroprevalence compared with controls. The reason for this observation is uncertain, but patients with alcoholic liver disease have clinically severe disease with a high mortality when exposed to HEV. The low seroprevalence in this group may represent a 'culled' population.
Authors: Brittany L Kmush; Alain Labrique; Wei Li; Sabra L Klein; Kerry Schulze; Saijuddin Shaikh; Hasmot Ali; Ronald E Engle; Lee Wu; Robert H Purcell; Sucheta Mehra; Parul Christian; Keith West; Kenrad Nelson Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2015-11-30 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: O Ðaković Rode; L Jemeršić; D Brnić; N Pandak; R Mikulić; J Begovac; A Vince Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2014-07-09 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: Claire Louise Crossan; Kenneth J Simpson; Darren G Craig; Christopher Bellamy; Janice Davidson; Harry R Dalton; Linda Scobie Journal: World J Hepatol Date: 2014-06-27