Journal Articles Journal of Infectious Diseases Year : 2010

Characteristics of Autochthonous Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Solid‐Organ Transplant Recipients in France

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections can lead to chronic hepatitis in immunocompromised patients. We have investigated the risk factors for HEV infection among solid-organ transplant recipients and the characteristics of these infections. Methods: We performed serological tests, quantified the virus, and genotyped the virus in plasma samples. We performed a case-control study with HEV-infected patients and control participants matched for sex and age who were recruited from a population of solid-organ transplant recipients with no markers of HEV infection. Results: We investigated 38 consecutive cases of HEV genotype 3 infection. Twenty-two (58%) of these 38 patients developed a chronic infection. The acute-phase aminotransferase levels were higher in the patients who cleared the virus than in those who developed chronic infections. The anti-HEV immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M profiles and HEV RNA concentration in patients who cleared the virus were similar to those in patients who developed a chronic infection. A logistic regression analysis of 37 case patients and 148 control participants indicated that the only factor independently associated with HEV infection was the consumption of game meat (68% of case patients vs 47% of control participants; odds ratio, 2.32; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-5.15). Conclusion: Immunocompromised patients should avoid eating insufficiently cooked game meat or pork products so as to reduce the risk of HEV infection and chronic liver disease.

Dates and versions

hal-05096139 , version 1 (03-06-2025)

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Florence Legrand-Abravanel, Nassim Kamar, Karine Sandres-Saune, Cyril Garrouste, Martine Dubois, et al.. Characteristics of Autochthonous Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Solid‐Organ Transplant Recipients in France. Journal of Infectious Diseases, 2010, 202 (6), pp.835-844. ⟨10.1086/655899⟩. ⟨hal-05096139⟩
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