Open AccessHepatitis E virus infection in the liver transplant recipients: Clinical presentation and management
Author(s) -
Avin Aggarwal,
Ryan B. Perumpail,
Swetha Tummala,
Aijaz Ahmed
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
world journal of hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 55
ISSN - 1948-5182
DOI - 10.4254/wjh.v8.i2.117
Subject(s) - medicine , immunosuppression , ribavirin , liver transplantation , population , hepatitis e virus , immunology , hepatitis e , hepatitis c , hepatitis c virus , transplantation , virus , biochemistry , chemistry , environmental health , genotype , gene
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an emerging pathogen and an increasingly recognized cause of graft hepatitis, especially in the post-orthotopic liver transplantation immunocompromised population. The exact incidence and prevalence of HEV infection in this population remains unclear but is certainly greater than historical estimates. Identifying acute HEV infection in this population is imperative for choosing the right course of management as it is very difficult to distinguish histologically from acute rejection on liver biopsy. Current suggested approach to manage acute HEV involves modifying immunosuppression, especially discontinuing calcineurin inhibitors which are the preferred immunosuppressive agents post-orthotopic liver transplantation. The addition of ribavirin monotherapy has shown promising success rates in clearing HEV infection and is used commonly in reported cases.