Hepatitis E virus is responsible for decompensation of chronic liver disease in an endemic region.
Article
in English
| IMSEAR
| ID: sea-63628
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Hepatitis A virus infection in patients with previously stable chronic liver disease is associated with liver decompensation. Whether infection with hepatitis E virus (HEV) also does so is not known.METHODS:
We studied 32 patients with decompensated liver disease and definite evidence of underlying cirrhosis for evidence of recent HEV infection.RESULTS:
Of 32 patients, 14 (44%) had detectable IgM anti-HEV in their serum. In comparison, only 3 of 48 (6%) patients with stable cirrhosis and no recent decompensation had such antibodies (p<0.0001). Of the 14 patients with evidence of recent HEV infection, 11 had history of prodrome. The etiology of cirrhosis in these patients was hepatitis B 6, hepatitis C 2, both hepatitis B and C 2, Wilson's disease 1, autoimmune 1 and cryptogenic 2. Two of these 14 patients died. Twelve patients survived, as compared to 9 of 18 patients without evidence of recent HEV infection (p<0.01).CONCLUSION:
HEV infection is a frequent cause of decompensation in patients with liver cirrhosis in HEV-endemic regions.
Full text:
Available
Index:
IMSEAR (South-East Asia)
Main subject:
Severity of Illness Index
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Superinfection
/
Case-Control Studies
/
Child
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Chronic Disease
/
Survival Rate
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Risk factors
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Year:
2004
Type:
Article
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