Clinical significance of post-liver transplant hepatitis E seropositivity in high prevalence area of hepatitis E genotype 3: a prospective study
Description
High hepatitis E (HEV) seroprevalence has been reported in the general population and in post-liver transplant (LT) cases in several regions, including Thailand, with genotype 3 being a predominant genotype. We hypothesized that HEV might persist at a subclinical level and might pose clinical risks in the post-LT period. We performed a cross-sectional study with 108 post-LT patients and found an IgG seroprevalence of 55.6%. Subsequently, 91 cases without clinical evidence of HEV-related hepatitis were enrolled in 1 year of prospective follow-up to determine clinical status, serologies and serum/feces HEV RNA every 4 months. HEV RNA was detected, indicating subclinical infections in patients with or without seropositivity, with an annual incidence of 7.7%. Our results suggest that subclinical HEV infection exists among LT patients in this high-prevalence area. Thus, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of disease reemergence and HEV viral transmission in LT patients.
Notes
Funding provided by: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004776
Award Number: RA59/074
Funding provided by: National Science and Technology Development Agency
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004192
Award Number: P-15-50004
Funding provided by: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004776
Award Number: GCE 58-014-30-004
Funding provided by: Thai Association for the Study of the Liver *
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
Award Number:
Funding provided by: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004776
Award Number: GRU 6105530009-1
Funding provided by: Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Crossref Funder Registry ID: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100004776
Award Number: RA60/101
Funding provided by: Thai Association for the Study of the Liver
Crossref Funder Registry ID:
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