ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Locally acquired hepatitis E is an emerging infection in developed countries and can be misdiagnosed as drug-induced liver injury. AIM: To study the role of hepatitis E virus (HEV) testing in drug-induced liver injury. METHODS: Retrospective review of a cohort of patients with suspected drug-induced liver injury (n = 69) and hepatitis E (n = 45). The standard criteria for drug-induced liver injury were applied. Patients with suspected drug-induced liver injury who met these criteria were retrospectively tested for HEV on stored sera taken at the time of presentation. The two cohorts were compared to determine variables that predicted either of the diagnoses. RESULTS: Forty-seven out of 69 patients had criterion-referenced drug-induced liver injury. 22/47 were HEV negative and thus had confirmed drug-induced liver injury. 19/47 were not tested for HEV, as there was no sera available from the time of presentation. 6/47 were HEV positive and thus did not have drug-induced liver injury, but had hepatitis E infection. Compared to patients with confirmed drug-induced liver injury, patients with hepatitis E were significantly more likely to be male (OR 3.09, CI 1.05-9.08); less likely to present in November and December (0.03, CI 0.01-0.52); have lower serum bilirubin (P = 0.015); and higher serum alanine aminotransferase (P < 0.001) and alanine aminotransferase/alkaline phosphatase ratio (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury is not secure without testing for HEV.
Subject(s)
Diagnostic Errors/prevention & control , Hepatitis E virus/isolation & purification , Hepatitis E/diagnosis , Liver Diseases/diagnosis , Liver Diseases/virology , Liver Function Tests/methods , Liver/virology , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
Although autochthonous hepatitis E has been reported in developed countries, its extent and nature in the United Kingdom are unclear. The aim of the present study was to report the natural history, lifestyle risk factors and molecular epidemiology of autochthonous hepatitis E infection in southwest England. Three hundred and thirty-three patients with unexplained hepatitis were tested for markers of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection over a 7-year period. HEV RNA isolated from the cases was amplified and characterized. Of the 333 patients, 21 had autochthonous hepatitis E. Patients were middle-aged or elderly and males were more commonly affected. Clinical manifestations ranged from asymptomatic infection to severe hepatitis. Of the 21 patients, 20 recovered within 6 weeks. None of the cases had travelled to an area endemic for HEV. None of the patients were vegetarian and all ate pork. Of the 21 cases, 20 occurred in the spring, summer and autumn months. All polymerase-chain-reaction-confirmed cases carried HEV genotype 3, which bore close sequence homology to HEV circulating in UK pigs. In the United Kingdom, autochthonous hepatitis E may be more common than previously recognized. Although the mode of transmission remains to be determined, it may be a zoonosis with pigs as a reservoir. Hepatitis E should be considered a public health issue in the United Kingdom.
