Hepatitis E virus infection in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus

Hepatitis E virus infection in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus in an endemic area in Iran

Some studies have suggested that hepatitis E virus is more frequent in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients and can progress to chronic infection. We aimed to determine the prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies and RNA in a series of 100 HIV-infected patients in Tehran, Iran, with comparison to 52 healthy HIV, hepatitis B and C-negative blood donors as controls. HIV-infected patients were also tested for hepatitis E virus-RNA. Among the HIV-infected patients, 10% had antibodies to hepatitis E virus - a finding not significantly different from the uninfected controls (11.5%). No HIV-infected patients had hepatitis E virus IgM antibodies nor did any have detectable hepatitis E virus-RNA. We found no associations between anti-hepatitis E virus IgG-seropositivity and age, sex, route of HIV acquisition, aminotransferases levels, CD4, antiretroviral therapy, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus co-infection. Hepatitis E virus is relatively prevalent in our HIV-infected patients, although without evidence of chronic infection and no more common than among HIV-negative controls or the general population. For the present, we do not recommend routine screening for hepatitis E virus infection in HIV-infected patients in our moderately endemic region.

Hepatitis E virus infections in HIV-infected patients in Ghana and Cameroon

BACKGROUND

Chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections have recently been described in HIV-infected patients. Only few data are available for sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV and HEV are highly co-endemic, and where liver pathology is common in HIV-infected individuals.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of HEV viremia, anti-HEV antibodies, and serum aminotransferase levels in HIV patients in Ghana and Cameroon.

STUDY DESIGN

We retrospectively surveyed a cross-section of patients who were enrolled in cohort studies in Ghana (West Africa), and Cameroon (Central Africa). Plasma samples from 1029 HIV patients from Ghana and 515 patients from Cameroon including 214 children were analyzed for HEV-RNA by two reverse transcription PCR methods. In a subset of 791 patients, anti-HEV IgG and IgM antibodies were analyzed.

RESULTS

No HEV-RNA was detected in any of the plasma samples of 1544 patients. HEV seroprevalence was high in adult HIV patients from Ghana (45.3%, n=402) and Cameroon (14.2%, n=289), but low in pediatric HIV patients from Cameroon (2.0%, n=100). Elevations of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels were common in adult patients from Ghana (20.8% and 25.4%) and Cameroon (38.9% and 69.8%). The prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen was 11.8% and of hepatitis C virus antibodies 2.5% in our adult Cameroonian study population.

CONCLUSIONS

Acute or chronic HEV infections did not play a role in liver pathology in two HIV cohorts in Ghana and Cameroon. A better understanding of the epidemiology and genotype-specific characteristics of HEV infections in HIV patients in sub-Saharan Africa is needed.

Chronic hepatitis e virus infection and treatment

It is now well accepted that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can induce chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in immunosuppressed patients. Chronic genotype-3 HEV infections were first reported in patients with a solid-organ transplant. Thereafter, cases of chronic HEV infection have been reported in patients with hematological disease and in those who are human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive. HEV-associated extra-hepatic manifestations, including neurological symptoms, kidney injuries, and hematological disorders, have been also reported. In transplant patients, reducing the dosage of immunosuppressive drugs allows the virus to be cleared in some patients. In the remaining patients, as well as hematological patients and patients who are HIV-positive, anti-viral therapies, such as pegylated interferon and ribavirin, have been found to be efficient in eradicating HEV infection. This review summarizes our current knowledge of chronic HEV infection, its treatment, and the extra-hepatic manifestations induced by HEV.

Hepatitis E virus infection

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The spectrum of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has changed over the past 2 years, especially in the developed world. Herein, we review the progress made in studying the epidemiology, hepatic, and extrahepatic manifestations, and the treatment of HEV infection, over the past 2 years.

RECENT FINDINGS

HEV infection is an underdiagnosed disease because of the use of low-sensitivity serological assays. In addition to the four known genotypes, other new genotypes have also been recently described. HEV infection is not only a self-limiting disease but it can also evolve to chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis in organ transplant patients, hematological patients receiving chemotherapy, and HIV patients. HEV can also cause extrahepatic manifestations, such as neurological symptoms, kidney injury, and hematological disorders. Pegylated interferon and ribavirin have been found to effectively treat HEV infection.

SUMMARY

HEV is a worldwide disease that can cause hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations.

Chronic hepatitis E in HIV patients: rapid progression to cirrhosis and response to oral ribavirin

Chronic hepatitis E virus infection with rapid progression to cirrhosis is reported in 2 human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with severe immunosuppression. Monotherapy with ribavirin led to temporary viral response and marked improvement of liver damage. Chronic hepatitis E should be regarded as another opportunistic event within HIV infection.

The burden of liver disease in Europe: a review of available epidemiological data

To survey the burden of liver disease in Europe and its causes 260 epidemiological studies published in the last five years were reviewed. The incidence and prevalence of cirrhosis and primary liver cancer are key to understand the burden of liver disease. They represent the end-stage of liver pathology and thus are indicative of the associated mortality. About 0.1% of Hungarian males will die of cirrhosis every year compared with 0.001% of Greek females. WHO estimate that liver cancer is responsible for around 47,000 deaths per year in the EU. Harmful alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis B and C and metabolic syndromes related to overweight and obesity are the leading causes of cirrhosis and primary liver cancer in Europe. Chronic hepatitis B affects 0.5-0.7% of the European population. In the last decade the prevalence of chronic hepatitis C was 0.13-3.26%. It is of great concern that about 90% of people in Europe infected by viral hepatitis are unaware of their status. Available data suggest the prevalence rate of NAFLD is 2-44% in the general European population (including obese children) and 42.6-69.5% in people with type 2 diabetes. Each of these four major causes of liver disease is amenable to prevention and treatment, reducing the burden of liver disease in Europe and saving lives. Further surveys are urgently needed to implement cost-effective prevention programmes and novel treatments to tackle this problem.

Epidemiology of mammalian hepatitis E virus infection

Mammalian hepatitis E virus (HEV), the etiological agent of hepatitis E in humans, is a recently discovered infectious agent. It was identified for the first time in 1983 using electron microscopy on a faecal specimen of a person infected with non-A, non-B enterically-transmitted hepatitis. Based on retrospective and prospective studies, HEV was long described as one of the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis in tropical and subtropical countries, whereas in developed countries hepatitis E was considered an imported disease from HEV hyperendemic countries. Data from studies conducted during the past decade have greatly shifted our knowledge on the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of HEV. Recently, it has been shown that contrary to previous beliefs, hepatitis E is also an endemic disease in several developed countries, particularly in Japan and in Europe, as evidenced by reports of high anti-HEV immunoglobulin G prevalence in healthy individuals and an increasing number of non-travel-related acute hepatitis E cases. Moreover, a porcine reservoir and growing evidence of zoonotic transmission have been reported in these countries. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the epidemiology and prevention of transmission of mammalian HEV.

Hepatitis B and E co-primary infections in an HIV-1-infected patient

We report an autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV)-hepatitis B virus co-primary infection in a 41-year-old man having sex with men and infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This case prompts testing for HEV in HIV-infected patients with acute hepatitis even if primary infection with another hepatitis virus is diagnosed.

Discrepancy between anti-hepatitis E virus immunoglobulin G prevalence assessed by two assays in kidney and liver transplant recipients

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging clinical threat in Europe among kidney and liver-transplant recipients. The incidence and prevalence of HEV infection in this special population are poorly known. False-negative results have been observed for anti-HEV IgG detection in severely immunocompromized persons. Moreover, large discrepancies have been reported between rates of anti-HEV IgG detection in blood donors and hepatitis E cases.

OBJECTIVES

To compare anti-HEV IgG and IgM prevalence using two different commercial microplate enzyme-immuno assays (MEIAs) (Adaltis and Wantai) in 64 kidney-/liver-transplant recipients.

STUDY DESIGN

Serum samples tested in our routine clinical practice over the 12/2009-12/2011 period with Adaltis MEIAs were retrospectively tested using Wantai MEIAs. IgG-positive sera were further tested by an immunoblot while those found IgM-positive were further tested with an immunochromatography rapid test and for the presence of HEV RNA.

RESULTS

Positive results on anti-HEV IgG testing were obtained for seven (10.9%) compared to 20 (31.3%) serum samples with Adaltis and Wantai assays, respectively (p=0.005). Then, 6/7 (86%) of the serum samples positive with Adaltis and 16/20 (80%) of those positive with Wantai were positive with the immunoblot. One patient with chronic HEV infection was IgG-negative with both MEIAs. Regarding anti-HEV IgM, Adaltis and Wantai assays were concordant for 97% of the serum samples, prevalence being 8% with both MEIAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The accuracy of currently available commercial or in-house anti-HEV IgG MEIAs should be tested comparatively on a panel of serum samples collected from solid organ-transplant recipients, including some who experienced PCR-documented HEV infection.

Liver injury in HIV monoinfected patients: should we turn a blind eye to it?

With the advent of combined antiretroviral therapies, liver diseases have emerged as a key issue in the management of HIV infection. In addition to hepatitis co-infection, a large spectrum of liver diseases can affect the prognosis of HIV infection. Acute or progressive hepatic injuries require an accurate diagnosis for a better clinical management. Here, we provide an overview of the main liver diseases associated with HIV infection, which are not covered by the widely documented field of viral hepatitis co-infection.

Acute hepatitis E during biotherapy

Hepatitis E is a rare and usually asymptomatic infection. However, its incidence is rising in France, and it can cause severe or chronic manifestations in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report a case of hepatitis E in a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who had immunosuppression due to treatment with a biological agent.

Serological evidence for a hepatitis e virus-related agent in goats in the United States

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an important public health disease in many developing countries and is also endemic in some industrialized countries. In addition to humans, strains of HEV have been genetically identified from pig, chicken, rat, mongoose, deer, rabbit and fish. While the genotypes 1 and 2 HEV are restricted to humans, the genotypes 3 and 4 HEV are zoonotic and infect humans and other animal species. As a part of our ongoing efforts to search for potential animal reservoirs for HEV, we tested goats from Virginia for evidence of HEV infection and showed that 16% (13/80) of goat sera from Virginia herds were positive for IgG anti-HEV. Importantly, we demonstrated that neutralizing antibodies to HEV were present in selected IgG anti-HEV positive goat sera. Subsequently, in an attempt to genetically identify the HEV-related agent from goats, we conducted a prospective study in a closed goat herd with known anti-HEV seropositivity and monitored a total of 11 kids from the time of birth until 14 weeks of age for evidence of HEV infection. Seroconversion to IgG anti-HEV was detected in seven of the 11 kids, although repeated attempts to detect HEV RNA by a broad-spectrum nested RT-PCR from the faecal and serum samples of the goats that had seroconverted were unsuccessful. In addition, we also attempted to experimentally infect laboratory goats with three well-characterized mammalian strains of HEV but with no success. The results indicate that a HEV-related agent is circulating and maintained in the goat population in Virginia and that the goat HEV is likely genetically very divergent from the known HEV strains.

Hepatitis E

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) was discovered during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, after an outbreak of unexplained hepatitis at a military camp. A pooled faecal extract from affected soldiers was ingested by a member of the research team. He became sick, and the new virus (named HEV), was detected in his stool by electron microscopy. Subsequently, endemic HEV has been identified in many resource-poor countries. Globally, HEV is the most common cause of acute viral hepatitis. The virus was not initially thought to occur in developed countries, but recent reports have shown this notion to be mistaken. The aim of this Seminar is to describe recent discoveries regarding HEV, and how they have changed our understanding of its effect on human health worldwide.

Pathogenesis and treatment of hepatitis e virus infection

Hepatitis E has been considered to be a travel-associated, acute, self-limiting liver disease that causes fulminant hepatic failure in specific high-risk groups only. However, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can also be acquired in industrialized countries-HEV genotype 3 infection is a zoonosis, with pigs and rodents serving as animal reservoirs. In recent years, cases of chronic HEV infection that were associated with progressive liver disease have been described in several cohorts of immunocompromised individuals, including recipients of organ transplants. The topic of hepatitis E is therefore re-emerging and has raised the following important questions: what is the risk for HEV infection in Western countries (eg, from eating uncooked meat)? How frequently does chronic hepatitis E develop among human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients and recipients of organ transplants? What are the treatment options? What is the current status of vaccine development? What do we know about the pathogenesis of HEV infection, and why does it have a more severe course in pregnant women? This review summarizes the current knowledge on the pathogenesis and treatment of HEV infection.

Prevalence of antibodies and RNA genome of hepatitis E virus in a cohort of French immunocompromised

BACKGROUND

Recently, cases of chronic hepatitis E have been identified in immunocompromised patients.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the prevalence of anti-HEV IgG antibodies and the persistence of HEV-RNA in sera of immunocompromised patients with regular follow-up at Saint-Louis Hospital in Paris, France.

STUDY DESIGN

307 samples collected from 261 HIV-infected patients and 46 kidney transplant (KT)-patients were retrospectively tested for the presence of the following hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection markers: anti-HEV IgM antibodies, anti-HEV IgG antibodies, anti-HEV IgG avidity index, and HEV-RNA.

RESULTS

Anti-HEV IgG positive serology was found in 4 HIV-infected patients (1.5%) and 3 KT-patients (6.5%), leading to an overall seroprevalence of 2.3%. HEV-RNA detection was not observed among 55 HIV-patients at higher risk of chronic HEV (<200 CD4 cells/mm(3), elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, and/or positive anti-HEV antibodies) and among 44 KT-patients. None of the seven patients had anti-HEV IgM antibodies, thereby excluding any acute infection. The IgG avidity index confirmed past HEV infection among tested patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The low seroprevalence observed in the Paris region does not warrant a systematic evaluation of HEV infection in immunocompromised patients. However, HEV infection must be examined as a possibility if unexplained increases in ALT should occur and after more common viral hepatitis infections are excluded.

Progress in research of chronic hepatitis E

Hepatitis E caused by hepatitis E virus (HEV) has long been considered as an acute self-limiting disease. But in recent years, cases which progress to chronic liver disease mainly in immunocompromised patients have been detected, such as organ transplant recipients and patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Studies indicate that chronic HEV hepatitis may result in cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. Since clearance of the virus depends on the development of specific immunity, lowering the immunosuppressive medication is generally recommended. Ribavirin, interferon-alpha-2a and interferon-alpha-2b were found to be effective in patients with chronic HEV infection.

Hepatitis E in three immunocompromized children in southeastern France

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) causes an emerging autochthonous disease in developed countries where links with a viral porcine reservoir have been evidenced. Moreover, chronic HEV infection and associated-cirrhosis have been described in severely immunocompromized patients. Nonetheless, only few studies have focused on pediatric HEV infections worldwide and only four autochthonous cases have been reported in children in developed countries. We describe here acute hepatitis E in three immunocompromized children. Case no. 1 was a 9-year-old liver transplant recipient girl in whom H1N1 2009 flu infection was diagnosed concurrently with hepatitis E. Case no. 2 was a 12-year-old boy presenting early medullar relapse of lymphoblastic leukemia of type B and in whom HEV RNA was detected over a 29-week period. Case no. 3 was a 9-year-old boy with a rare primary immunodeficiency due to XIAP deficiency. HEV infections were all autochthonously acquired and involved different viruses classified as subtype f, c, and e of genotype 3, which are those described in autochthonous cases in Europe. These three observations prompt to consider HEV as a causative agent of hepatitis in children in developed countries, and to perform particularly HEV testing in those severely immunocompromized who may develop chronic hepatitis E.

Chronic Hepatitis E as a cause for cryptogenic cirrhosis in HIV

Chronic Hepatitis E infection (HEV) is reported in immunocompromised patients. A 45-year-old HIV-infected man had no cause found for a persistent transaminitis which predated commencement of antiretroviral therapy. Hepatic elastography and liver biopsy revealed cirrhosis. In 2010, he tested positive for HEV IgM/IgG antibodies. Plasma HEV RNA was detected. Archived samples revealed HEV viraemia since 2000. A 24-week course of pegylated interferon was commenced and HEV RNA became undetectable at week 4 until week 27 post treatment cessation. Chronic HEV infection should be considered in HIV patients as a cause for unexplained transaminitis and cryptogenic liver cirrhosis.