Sporadic acute hepatitis E in the united kingdom: an underdiagnosed phenomenon?
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis E (HEV) is the primary cause of enterically transmitted non-A non-B hepatitis worldwide. Case reports of HEV in individuals in the United Kingdom relate to travel to endemic areas or contact with individuals who have visited these areas.


METHODS
Four individuals presented with acute hepatitis to a hepatology clinic in a teaching hospital. Serology confirmed acute hepatitis E in all four. Investigation by the Communicable Disease Control Department established no links between the cases, no travel to an endemic area, and no contacts.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to current belief, community acquired hepatitis E virus infection occurs sporadically in the United Kingdom and should be considered as a cause of seronegative hepatitis.
McCrudden
R
R
Division of Cell and Molecular Medicine, D Level South Block Mail Point 811, Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK. prm@soton.ac.uk
O'Connell
S
S
Farrant
T
T
Beaton
S
S
Iredale
J P
JP
Fine
D
D
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003140:Communicable Disease Control; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M