1. Hepatitis E in a Portuguese cohort of human immunodeficiency virus positive patients: High seroprevalence but no chronic infections
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Rita Filipe, Beatriz Prista‐Leão, André Silva‐Pinto, Isabel Abreu, Rosário Serrão, Rosário Costa, Edite Guedes, Joana Sobrinho‐Simões, António Sarmento, Carmo Koch, and Lurdes Santos
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General Medicine - Abstract
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection causes zoonotic hepatitis in Europe, with a higher risk of complications in immunocompromised hosts. HEV natural history in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients is not fully understood, and its prevalence is unknown.To study the seroprevalence of HEV and prevalence of chronic HEV in HIV-positive patients from Porto, Portugal.We randomly selected patients from the cohort of HIV-positive patients followed in our hospital. We performed an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to search for immunoglobulin G for HEV. When the absorbance/cut-off was inferior to 3.5, the test was repeated, and a confirmatory test executed in that sample. For reactive tests and for immunosuppressed patients (CD4 count 200/mmWe included 299 patients. The mean age was 48 and 75.3% were men. Regarding HIV infection, the median follow-up time was 10 years, the acquisition was mainly heterosexual contact, and 94% were on antiretroviral therapy. Seventy-six patients (25.4%) had reactive immunoglobulin G (IgG) hepatitis E serology. Patients with a reactive test were older (statistically significant difference). Otherwise, there was no difference between groups concerning birthplace, rural residence, chronic viral hepatitis coinfection, or cirrhosis. Nadir and actual TSeroprevalence of HEV was 25.4% in HIV-positive patients. Older age and higher GGT correlated to HEV reactive IgG test. No cases of current hepatitis E were found.
- Published
- 2022
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