HEV infection in stem cell transplant recipients-retrospective study of EBMT Infectious Diseases Working Party

Malgorzata Mikulska, Olaf Penack, Lotus Wendel, Nina Knelange, Jan J Cornelissen, Nicole Blijlevens, Jakob Passweg, Nicolaus Kroger, Anke Bruns, Christian Koenecke, Marc Bierings, José Luis Piñana, Helene Labussiere-Wallet, Herve Ghesquieres, Miguel Angel Diaz, Antonia Sampol, Diana Averbuch, Rafael de la Camara, Jan Styczynski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

HEV infection is an emerging cause of acute and chronic hepatitis in stem cell transplant (SCT) recipients. We performed a retrospective observational study among EBMT centers with the aim of describing characteristics, management and outcome of HEV after SCT. There were 34 cases of HEV infection from 12 centers in 6 countries, diagnosed in median 4.5 months after SCT; 20 of acute and 14 of chronic infection. Non-hepatic findings possibly associated with HEV infection were present in 9 (26%). Patients with chronic infection had more characteristics associated with severely immunocompromised status. Ribavirin was provided to 16 patients (47%; 40% with acute and 57% with chronic infection), in median for 75 days. Three (19%) patients discontinued it due to side effects. HEV-RNA clearance occurred in 29 patients (85%; 85% in acute and 86% in chronic infection). HEV was considered a cause of death in 3 (9%), with 2 cases with late diagnosis. Reduction of immunosuppression in those receiving it, and ribavirin treatment in those with chronic infection were associated with shorter time to HEV-RNA clearance. Policy on HEV testing varied between the centers. In conclusion, acute and chronic HEV hepatitis should be promptly diagnosed and managed in SCT recipients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)167-175
Number of pages9
JournalBone Marrow Transplantation
Volume57
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022

Keywords

  • Communicable Diseases
  • Hepatitis E virus/genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • RNA
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ribavirin/therapeutic use
  • Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects
  • Transplant Recipients

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