A Nationwide Survey of Hepatitis E Virus Infection and Chronic Hepatitis in Heart and Kidney Transplant Recipients in Japan.
Transplantation
; 104(2): 437-444, 2020 02.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31205267
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Recently, chronic hepatitis E has been reported in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients in European countries. Previously, we clarified the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in Japanese liver transplant recipients and identified 2 chronic hepatitis E patients infected by blood transfusion. However, the rate of HEV infection in recipients of SOTs other than liver in Japan remains unclear, so we conducted a nationwide survey to clarify the prevalence of chronic HEV infection in Japanese heart and kidney transplant recipients.METHODS:
A total of 99 heart and 2526 kidney transplant recipients in 17 hospitals in Japan were examined for the presence of the IgG class of anti-HEV antibodies as well as for serum HEV RNA.RESULTS:
The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among heart and kidney transplant recipients was 7.07% (7/99) and 4.08% (103/2526), respectively. One heart transplant patient (1.01%) and 11 kidney transplant patients (0.44%) were found to be positive for HEV RNA. The HEV isolates from all viremic patients were typed as genotype 3. Four patients developed chronic hepatitis E after transplantation. Three patients were treated with ribavirin; their liver enzymes normalized, and HEV RNA became negative immediately. Sustained virologic response was achieved in all cases.CONCLUSIONS:
This is the first nationwide survey of HEV infection in Japanese heart and kidney transplant recipients. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG and HEV RNA in heart and kidney transplant recipients in Japan was lower than that in European countries. Of note, 42% of viremic transplant patients developed chronic hepatitis.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Population Surveillance
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Heart Transplantation
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Kidney Transplantation
/
Hepatitis E virus
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Hepatitis E
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Transplant Recipients
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Hepatitis, Chronic
Type of study:
Clinical_trials
/
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
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Prevalence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
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Screening_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Transplantation
Year:
2020
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Japan