Chronic Hepatitis E?

Investigators in France provide convincing evidence of chronic HEV infection in organ-transplant recipients.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a well-recognized cause of acute hepatitis. Although two previous cases of persistent HEV infection have been reported, the virus has been thought to cause only acute disease. A descriptive case series, however, suggests that chronic infection does occur in organ-transplant recipients.

Kamar and colleagues described 14 cases of acute HEV infection in liver, kidney, or kidney/pancreas transplant recipients who were seen at their inpatient and outpatient facilities in France between 2004 and 2006. Seven of the patients were symptomatic; the remaining seven were tested for HEV after detection of liver-enzyme abnormalities.

Classic causes of hepatitis were ruled out among the 14 patients. All 14 had HEV RNA detected in …

Reviewing Author

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Larry M. Baddour, MD

Disclosures

RoyaltiesUpToDate, Inc. (Authorship duties)

Chronic Hepatitis E?

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Reviewing Author