Premium
Hepatitis E virus as an etiology of acute exacerbation of previously unrecognized asymptomatic patients with hepatitis B virus‐related chronic liver disease
Author(s) -
Kumar Manoj,
Sharma Barjesh C,
Sarin Shiv K
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2007.05243.x
Subject(s) - medicine , superinfection , hbsag , hbeag , exacerbation , asymptomatic , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis , immunology , hepatitis b , seroconversion , liver disease , gastroenterology , virology , virus
Background and Aim: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) has recently been implicated in episodes of acute decompensation in patients having underlying chronic liver disease (CLD) of varying etiology. However, HEV as a cause of acute exacerbation of previously asymptomatic and unrecognized hepatitis B virus (HBV)‐infected patients is less well described. The aim of the present study was to investigate the etiology of acute exacerbation of previously asymptomatic and unrecognized HBV‐infected patients and to evaluate the relative role of HEV. We also investigated the effect of superinfection on the clinical spectrum of underlying HBV infection. Methods: Forty‐three patients presented with the following were retrospectively analyzed: (i) clinical features suggestive of acute hepatitis; (ii) with hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (+); (iii) IgM hepatitis B core antibody (IgM anti‐HBc) (−); (iv) no previous history of liver disease; (v) no features suggestive of CLD at presentation; (vi) HBsAg remaining (+) for at least 12 months on follow up; and (vii) having a follow‐up biopsy during the convalescent phase showing evidence of chronic hepatitis B. Results: Of the 43 patients, 21 were hepatitis e antigen (HBeAg) (+) (Gr.1) and 22 HBeAg (−) (Gr.2) at presentation. In Gr.1, only two (9.5%) had superinfection (both with hepatitis A virus), whereas in Gr.2, 11 (50%) had superinfection (27.3% hepatitis E, 13.6% hepatitis A and 9.1% both) ( P = 0.007). In Gr.1, the remaining 19 (90.5%) patients had spontaneous exacerbation (immune clearance with spontaneous seroconversion) whereas in Gr.2, the remaining 11 (50%) had spontaneous exacerbation (due to reactivation). Overall, HEV superinfection contributed to 20% of acute exacerbation episodes and, in particular, 36% of episodes in initially HBeAg (−) patients. Time to alanine aminotransferase normalization was longer in patients with superinfection ( n = 13) as compared to spontaneous exacerbation ( n = 30) (median [range] 36 [8–48] vs 16 [6–36] weeks, P = 0.001). During convalescence, there was no significant difference between histological activity index score (median [range] 8 [4–11] vs 8 [4–16] weeks, P = 0.629) and fibrosis scores (median [range] 3.5 [1–4] vs 2 [1–4] weeks, P = 0.099] on liver biopsy after recovery among patients with acute exacerbation due to superinfection and spontaneous exacerbation. Conclusions: Acute exacerbations in HBeAg (+) patients are most often due to spontaneous viral activation, while in HBeAg (−) patients, superinfection with non‐B hepatitis viruses and spontaneous viral activation are equally common. HEV is an important cause of acute exacerbation in previously asymptomatic and unrecognized patients with HBV‐related CLD.