Acute Hepatitis E (HEV)

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Young people are usually infected by staying in endemic areas. Sporadic forms are increasingly appearing in adults. The infection is transmitted by zoonosis, including contact with infected pork. The virus can also be transmitted by blood transfusion.

The diagnosis is made by a marked increase in transaminases, which may be accompanied by an increase in bilirubin, the appearance of anti-hepatitis E virus IgM antibodies and a positive hepatitis E virus RNA. The most common genotype in the West is genotype 3.

Acute hepatitis E usually does not become chronic. The HEV RNA remains in the blood for 2 to 3 weeks. Only in patients under immunosuppression, for example after a transplant, can it become chronic.

An important complication is the development of serious neurological abnormalities, including Guillain-Barré syndrome. This is also called Hepatoneural syndrome.

There is no vaccine yet in the West. Acute hepatitis E does not need to be treated either. When hepatitis E becomes chronic, it can be cured by an antiviral drug. This is successful in 75% of cases.

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