Clinical significance of post-liver transplant hepatitis E seropositivity in high prevalence area of hepatitis E genotype 3: a prospective study

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scientific reports 2020-04, Vol.10 (1), p.7352-7352, Article 7352
Main Authors: Komolmit, Piyawat, Oranrap, Vinita, Suksawatamnuay, Sirinporn, Thanapirom, Kessarin, Sriphoosanaphan, Supachaya, Srisoonthorn, Nunthiya, Posuwan, Nawarat, Thongmee, Thanunrat, Treeprasertsuk, Sombat, Poovorawan, Yong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
631/326/596/2562
692/4020/1503/234
692/4020/4021
Aged
Clinical significance
Cross-Sectional Studies
Disease transmission
Female
Genotype
Genotype & phenotype
Genotypes
Hepatitis
Hepatitis E - epidemiology
Hepatitis E - genetics
Humanities and Social Sciences
Humans
Immunoglobulin G
Liver
Liver transplantation
Liver transplants
Male
Middle Aged
multidisciplinary
Prevalence
Prospective Studies
Ribonucleic acid
RNA
RNA, Viral - genetics
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Seroepidemiologic Studies
Serology
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2045-2322
2045-2322
DOI:10.1038/s41598-020-64551-x