Chronic Hepatitis E Viral Infection After Liver Transplantation: A Regression of Fibrosis After Antiviral Therapy

Transplantation. 2017 Sep;101(9):2083-2087. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000001766.

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is increasingly being reported in immunocompromised patients and particularly organ transplant recipients. In this context, HEV infection frequently evolves to chronic infection with a rapid progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis. Ribavirin monotherapy and a minimization of immunosuppression represent the treatment of choice, with a good response rate. However, no data are available on whether treatment can achieve a regression of liver fibrosis in chronic HEV patients. A 57-year-old male patient received a liver transplant for alcoholic cirrhosis and, 6 years later, developed biopsy-proven chronic HEV infection. The patient received different antiviral therapy regimens (pegylated interferon alpha 2b and ribavirin different dosages, and long-term treatment with ribavirin monotherapy still ongoing) but without achieving a sustained virological response. Liver function parameters normalized after 1 month of treatment but without the clearance of HEV. Hepatitis E virus RNA levels also remained detectable in the serum and stools throughout ribavirin monotherapy. No serious adverse events were reported. A gradual regression of liver fibrosis was reported (Metavir A0/F1 in 2015 versus A3/F4 in 2008). Long-term treatment with ribavirin is safe in liver transplant recipients, without achieving HEV sustained virological response, and may induce a biopsy-proven regression of liver fibrosis in a liver transplant recipient with cirrhosis after chronic HEV infection.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Biopsy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Hepatitis E / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis E / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis E / immunology
  • Hepatitis E / virology
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / drug therapy*
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Chronic / virology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / adverse effects
  • Liver Cirrhosis / diagnosis
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / immunology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Transplantation / adverse effects*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Opportunistic Infections / diagnosis
  • Opportunistic Infections / drug therapy*
  • Opportunistic Infections / immunology
  • Opportunistic Infections / virology
  • Remission Induction
  • Sustained Virologic Response
  • Therapeutics
  • Time Factors
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Antiviral Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents