Chronic hepatitis E virus-induced spinal cord atrophy in a patient with chronic lymphatic leukemia: a case report and interdisciplinary management proposal.

Background: The hepatitis E virus (HEV) can cause acute viral hepatitis with or without neurological manifestations, and occasionally progresses to chronic infection in immunocompromised individuals. The management of chronic HEV infection in cancer patients may be challenging due to the complex immunological constellation. Furthermore, the diagnostic workflow and the impact on quality of life of neurological HEV manifestations in immunocompromised patients have not been sufficiently delineated previously. Case description: A 61-year-old male with systemically treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) experienced a slowly progressive atrophy of the spinal cord due to a chronic HEV infection. Despite continuous antiviral treatment with ribavirin, the patient's neurological condition continued to deteriorate, particularly following subsequent attempts to treat CLL. Treatment with obinutuzumab resulted in acute bowel and urinary retention and a further deterioration of motor skills, prompting the discontinuation of obinutuzumab. The patient's neurological status improved after the administration of intravenous immunoglobulins. Conclusion: This case study provides a comprehensive long-term follow-up of a cancer patient with chronic HEV infection and associated CNS involvement, which resulted in progressive neurological disability over several years. The challenges faced in diagnosing new neurological symptoms in patients undergoing immunosuppressive cancer treatment underscore the need for an interdisciplinary diagnostic approach that includes HEV testing. We propose a diagnostic pathway for future validation in immunocompromised cohorts presenting with neurological symptoms, emphasizing its potential to enhance clinical outcomes.

Patients' attitude towards vaccination after Guillain Barré syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Guillain Barré syndrome (GBS) could be triggered by an infectious disease but by vaccination as well. Thus, suffering GBS may influence patients' attitudes towards vaccination. METHODS: An anonymous questionnaire consisting of the Overall Neuropathy Limitations Score (ONLS), the short form-36 health survey (SF-36), and questions addressing patients' attitude towards vaccination was sent to members of a German GBS support group and to patients with GBS diagnosis who were treated at Jena University Hospital. RESULTS: Ninety-seven questionnaires clearly stated GBS as a diagnosis and were included in the analysis. Although 19.6% of the GBS patients reported having no disability in the long-time follow-up, a considerable number of patients still had persistent neurological symptoms; 74.2% of the GBS patients reported being able to walk at least 10 m independently. However, 5.2% were restricted to wheelchair. The patients reached lower scores in all domains of quality of life compared to German controls. Moreover, patients showed a more critical attitude towards vaccination compared to a German representative survey. Fewer patients (58.8%) received a vaccination after suffering from GBS than before (77.3%). Every tenth patient believed that vaccination was the trigger for the GBS. 32% of the patients did not receive a vaccination in the last 5 years mainly because of the fear of adverse effects (32%) or disadvise of the general practitioners (25.8%). DISCUSSION: Although the risk of relapse following immunization may be rather low, uncertainties and fears still impair the counseling of these patients by their medical practitioner.