Research Article
Patient Characteristics and Clinical Features of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in the South of the Netherlands
Moniek van Heijst, Assi Cabbolet*, Dennis van der Lee, Robbert Eichhorn, Ulrike de Wit and Robert Laheij
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Netherlands
- *Corresponding Author:
- Assi Cabbolet
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Elisabeth-TweeSteden Hospital, Hilvarenbeekseweg 60
Tilburg, 5022 GC, Netherlands
Tel: +31 653453889
E-mail: mailto:a.cabbolet@elisabeth.nl
Received date: March 8, 2016; Accepted date: June 15, 2016; Published date: June 22, 2016
Citation: van Heijst M, Cabbolet A, van der Lee D, Eichhorn R, de Wit U, et al. (2016) Patient Characteristics and Clinical Features of Acute Hepatitis E Infection in the South of the Netherlands. J Gastrointest Dig Syst 6:440. doi:10.4172/2161-069X.1000440
Copyright: © 2016 van Heijst M, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License; which permits unrestricted use; distribution; and reproduction in any medium; provided the original author and source are credited.
Abstract
Background: Evidence suggests that the incidence of hepatitis E infection increases in the developed world, and that the infection is not always travel related. The details of acute infections in developed countries have not yet been fully elucidated. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features of acute viral hepatitis E infections in the developed world. Study design: All patients with a positive result on hepatitis E serology testing in the previous 5 years were evaluated. Retrospectively, the files of patients with an acute infection were analyzed. Results: Overall, 332 patients were tested. In 34 patients there was an acute infection. None of the patients had travelled to a developing country. Three patients were asymptomatic. In the other patients, main symptoms were malaise, fatigue and nausea and/or vomiting. Jaundice was seen in 8 patients. Liver tests were increased in almost all patients, but ranges varied considerably. The infection was self-limiting in all cases; normalization of liver tests occurred after two months. Conclusions: Clinical features of acute hepatitis E infection are nonspecific and cannot be recognized at presentation. In patients with acute onset of malaise and elevation of liver tests, hepatitis E should be considered.
