title: [Hepatitis E virus: A new entity].
abstract: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a RNA enterically transmitted virus that causes large waterborne epidemics of acute hepatitis E in endemic regions (Asia and Africa). Sporadic hepatitis E is an emerging disease in developed countries such as France. The majority of acute hepatitis E in France is indigenous (non travel-associated) and is due to infection with HEV genotype 3. Diagnosis is made on the presence of specific serum antibodies and on viral RNA detection in serum or stools. Characteristic pathological signs of acute hepatitis E are severe intralobular necrosis, polymorph inflammation and acute cholangitis in portal tract with numerous neutrophils. Severe forms of hepatitis are associated with underlying chronic liver disease such alcoholic disease. In immunocompetent patients, HEV causes acute resolutive hepatitis and there is no chronic evolution. Conversely, chronic hepatitis E is frequent in immunocompromised patients with a risk of rapid evolution to cirrhosis. Histologic lesions of chronic hepatitis E are similar to those observed in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus with dense lymphocytic portal infiltrate, constant peacemeal necrosis and fibrosis.
authors.affiliation: CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France. selves.j@chu-toulouse.fr
authors.forename: Janick
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Selves
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamar
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mansuy
authors.forename: Jean-Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Péron
mesh_terms: D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D003906:Developing Countries; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D005838:Genotype; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014876:Water Pollution
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral