Hepatitis E virus infection mimicking acute graft rejection in a liver transplant recipient. 2018

M Allaire, and C Bazille, and J Selves, and E Salamé, and M Altieri
Service d'hépato-gastroentérologie, CHU Côte-de-Nacre, Caen, France. Electronic address: allaire-m@chu-caen.fr.

In liver transplant (LT) patients, hepatitis E virus (HEV) can lead to acute liver failure, chronic hepatitis and graft cirrhosis. Few data on graft rejection associated with HEV are available and are subject to discussion. Here we report the case of a 58-year-old male patient who underwent LT in July 2015 for cirrhosis due to NASH and chronic alcohol intake complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma. LT was performed with a deceased donor isogroup and a mismatch CMV (donor+ and recipient-). HEV serology was negative before LT. In February 2016, we noted abnormal liver function, with increased transaminases and cholestasis parameters, without functional complaints. The patient was immunosuppressed by tacrolimus (4mg) and everolimus (2mg). Abdominal ultrasound was normal and liver biopsy showed signs of acute rejection (Banff score 6/9). We dispensed 500mg of methylprednisolone before obtaining positive serological results for HEV genotype 3 infection. Ribavirin (1,200mg per day) for 3 months was started, leading to rapid improvement in liver tests. Viral load became negative one month later. To date, the patient is under LP 5mg tacrolimus with normal liver tests. We describe a case of HEV genotype 3 infection mimicking acute cellular rejection, with a favorable outcome due to ribavirin treatment. As intensive immunosuppressive therapy administered for graft rejection may promote viral replication and worsen liver damage, potential HEV infection must be considered in cases of pathological signs of acute cellular rejection, in order to avoid chronic graft hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver decompensation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008111 Liver Function Tests Blood tests that are used to evaluate how well a patient's liver is working and also to help diagnose liver conditions. Function Test, Liver,Function Tests, Liver,Liver Function Test,Test, Liver Function,Tests, Liver Function
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002779 Cholestasis Impairment of bile flow due to obstruction in small bile ducts (INTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS) or obstruction in large bile ducts (EXTRAHEPATIC CHOLESTASIS). Bile Duct Obstruction,Biliary Stasis,Bile Duct Obstructions,Biliary Stases,Cholestases,Duct Obstruction, Bile,Duct Obstructions, Bile,Obstruction, Bile Duct,Obstructions, Bile Duct,Stases, Biliary,Stasis, Biliary
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D006084 Graft Rejection An immune response with both cellular and humoral components, directed against an allogeneic transplant, whose tissue antigens are not compatible with those of the recipient. Transplant Rejection,Rejection, Transplant,Transplantation Rejection,Graft Rejections,Rejection, Graft,Rejection, Transplantation,Rejections, Graft,Rejections, Transplant,Rejections, Transplantation,Transplant Rejections,Transplantation Rejections
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D016031 Liver Transplantation The transference of a part of or an entire liver from one human or animal to another. Grafting, Liver,Hepatic Transplantation,Liver Transplant,Transplantation, Hepatic,Transplantation, Liver,Hepatic Transplantations,Liver Grafting,Liver Transplantations,Liver Transplants,Transplant, Liver
D016751 Hepatitis E Acute INFLAMMATION of the LIVER in humans; caused by HEPATITIS E VIRUS, a non-enveloped single-stranded RNA virus. Similar to HEPATITIS A, its incubation period is 15-60 days and is enterically transmitted, usually by fecal-oral transmission. Enterically-Transmitted Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis,Epidemic Non-A, Non-B Hepatitis,Hepatitis, Viral, Non-A, Non-B, Enterically-Transmitted,Hepatitis, Water-Borne,ET-NANBH,Enterically Transmitted Non A, Non B Hepatitis,Epidemic Non A, Non B Hepatitis,Hepatitides, Water-Borne,Hepatitis, Water Borne,Water-Borne Hepatitides,Water-Borne Hepatitis
D016752 Hepatitis E virus A positive-stranded RNA virus species, causing enterically-transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (HEPATITIS E). Hepatitis E virus (strain Burma),Orthohepevirus A,Paslahepevirus,Paslahepevirus balayani,Paslahepeviruses

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