Hepatitis E virus infection among solid organ transplant recipients at a North American transplant center

Paul K. Sue, Nora Pisanic, Christopher D. Heaney, Michael Forman, Alexandra Valsamakis, Annette M. Jackson, John R. Ticehurst, Robert A. Montgomery, Kathleen B. Schwarz, Kenrad E. Nelson, Wikrom Karnsakul

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background. Autochthonous hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection has been reported in over 200 solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients since 2006, yet little is known about the burden of HEV among SOT recipients in North America. We performed a retrospective, cross-sectional study to investigate the prevalence and risk factors associated with HEV infection among SOT recipients at our institution. Methods. Children and adults (n = 311) who received allografts between 1988 and 2012 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital were assessed for evidence of HEV infection by testing posttransplantation serum samples for HEV antibody by enzyme immunoassay and HEV RNA by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Individuals with evidence of posttransplant HEV infection (presence of anti-HEV immunoglobulin [Ig]M antibody, anti-HEV IgG seroconversion, or HEV RNA) were compared with individuals without evidence of infection and assessed for risk factors associated with infection. Results. Twelve individuals (4%) developed posttransplant HEV infection. Posttransplant HEV infection was associated with an increased risk for graft rejection (odds ratio, 14.2; P = .03). No individuals developed chronic infection. Conclusions. Solid organ transplant recipients in the United States are at risk for posttransplant HEV infection. Further studies are needed to characterize environmental risk factors and the risk of HEV infection after SOT in North America.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberofw006
JournalOpen Forum Infectious Diseases
Volume3
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2016

Keywords

  • Hepatitis E virus
  • Renal transplantation
  • Solid organ transplantation
  • Viral hepatitis

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Clinical Neurology

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