Harry R Dalton1, Jeroen J J van Eijk2, Pascal Cintas3, Richie G Madden4, Catherine Jones4, Glynn W Webb5, Benjamin Norton5, Julie Pique3, Suzanne Lutgens2, Nikki Devooght-Johnson4, Kathy Woolson4, John Baker6, Maria Saunders6, Liz Househam6, James Griffiths4, Florence Abravanel7, Jacques Izopet7, Nassim Kamar8, Nens van Alfen2, Baziel G M van Engelen2, Jeremy G Hunter4, Annemiek A van der Eijk9, Richard P Bendall10, Brendan N Mclean4, Bart C Jacobs11. 1. Royal Cornwall Hospital, University of Exeter, Truro, UK; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Truro, UK. Electronic address: hardalton@gmail.com. 2. Jeroen Bosch Hospital, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Neurology, Pierre Paul Riquet Hospital, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France. 4. Royal Cornwall Hospital, University of Exeter, Truro, UK. 5. European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Truro, UK. 6. Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK. 7. INSERM, UMR1043, Toulouse F-31300, France; Department of Virology, National Reference Center for hepatitis E virus, CHU Purpan, Toulouse F-31300, France; Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. 8. Departments of Nephrology and Organ Transplantation, CHU Rangueil, INSERM U1043, IFR-BMT, Université Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. 9. Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands. 10. Royal Cornwall Hospital, University of Exeter, Truro, UK; European Centre for Environment and Human Health, University of Exeter, Truro, UK. 11. Department of Neurology and Immunology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been associated with a number of neurological syndromes, but causality has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between HEV and neurological illness by prospective HEV testing of patients presenting with acute non-traumatic neurological injury. METHODS: Four hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients presenting to hospital with acute non-traumatic neurological illnesses were tested for HEV by serology and PCR from four centres in the UK, France and the Netherlands. RESULTS: Eleven of 464 patients (2.4%) had evidence of current/recent HEV infection. Seven had HEV RNA identified in serum and four were diagnosed serologically. Neurological cases in which HEV infection was found included neuralgic amyotrophy (n=3, all PCR positive); cerebral ischemia or infarction (n=4); seizure (n=2); encephalitis (n=1); and an acute combined facial and vestibular neuropathy (n=1). None of these cases were clinically jaundiced and median ALT at presentation was 24IU/L (range 8-145). Cases of HEV-associated neuralgic amyotrophy were found in each of the participating countries: all were middle-aged males with bilateral involvement of the brachial plexus. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with non-traumatic neurological injury, 2.4% had evidence of HEV infection. Symptoms of hepatitis were mild or absent and no patients were jaundiced. The cases of HEV-associated neuralgic amyotrophy had similarities with other HEV-associated cases described in a large retrospective study. This observation supports a causal relationship between HEV and neuralgic amyotrophy. To further understand the relevance of HEV infection in patients with acute neurological illnesses, case-control studies are warranted. Lay summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), as its name suggests, is a hepatotropic virus, i.e. it causes damage to the liver (hepatitis). Our findings show that HEV can also be associated with a range of injury to the nervous system.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been associated with a number of neurological syndromes, but causality has not yet been established. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between HEV and neurological illness by prospective HEV testing of patients presenting with acute non-traumatic neurological injury. METHODS: Four hundred and sixty-four consecutive patients presenting to hospital with acute non-traumatic neurological illnesses were tested for HEV by serology and PCR from four centres in the UK, France and the Netherlands. RESULTS: Eleven of 464 patients (2.4%) had evidence of current/recent HEV infection. Seven had HEV RNA identified in serum and four were diagnosed serologically. Neurological cases in which HEV infection was found included neuralgic amyotrophy (n=3, all PCR positive); cerebral ischemia or infarction (n=4); seizure (n=2); encephalitis (n=1); and an acute combined facial and vestibular neuropathy (n=1). None of these cases were clinically jaundiced and median ALT at presentation was 24IU/L (range 8-145). Cases of HEV-associated neuralgic amyotrophy were found in each of the participating countries: all were middle-aged males with bilateral involvement of the brachial plexus. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of patients with non-traumatic neurological injury, 2.4% had evidence of HEV infection. Symptoms of hepatitis were mild or absent and no patients were jaundiced. The cases of HEV-associated neuralgic amyotrophy had similarities with other HEV-associated cases described in a large retrospective study. This observation supports a causal relationship between HEV and neuralgic amyotrophy. To further understand the relevance of HEV infection in patients with acute neurological illnesses, case-control studies are warranted. Lay summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV), as its name suggests, is a hepatotropic virus, i.e. it causes damage to the liver (hepatitis). Our findings show that HEV can also be associated with a range of injury to the nervous system.
Authors: Debin Tian; Wen Li; C Lynn Heffron; Bo Wang; Hassan M Mahsoub; Harini Sooryanarain; Anna M Hassebroek; Sherrie Clark-Deener; Tanya LeRoith; Xiang-Jin Meng Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2022-06-07 Impact factor: 12.779
Authors: Anna Mrzljak; Lorena Jemersic; Vladimir Savic; Ivan Balen; Maja Ilic; Zeljka Jurekovic; Jadranka Pavicic-Saric; Danko Mikulic; Tatjana Vilibic-Cavlek Journal: Pathogens Date: 2021-06-04
Authors: Johannes H Bannasch; Benjamin Berger; Claus-Peter Schwartkop; Marco Berning; Oliver Goetze; Marcus Panning; Miriam Fritz-Weltin; George Trendelenburg; Mathias Gelderblom; Marc Lütgehetmann; Fridrike Stute; Thomas Horvatits; Meike Dirks; Christoph Antoni; Patrick Behrendt; Sven Pischke Journal: Pathogens Date: 2021-05-30