[Acute hepatitis E infection associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome in an immunocompetent patient].
BACKGROUND
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is now recognized to be an emerging autochthonous disease in several countries. There have been several reports of neurological manifestations associated with HEV infections. Immunocompromised patients seem to be particularly vulnerable.


METHODS
We report a 73-year-old man who presented with an acute polyradiculopathy and an acute hepatitis. HEV RNA was positive in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Serum antiganglioside antibodies were also detected. Liver function tests returned to normal rapidly and HEV RNA was undetectable 4 weeks after initial testing. The neurological features improved gradually with the use of intravenous immunoglobulins.


CONCLUSIONS
We report a case of Guillain-Barré syndrome related to acute hepatitis E in an immunocompetent patient. The outcome was favorable after intravenous immunoglobulins administration. HEV screening should be systematic in patients who present with an acute polyradiculopathy and abnormal liver function tests.
Service de médecine interne, pôle digestif, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Comont
Service de médecine interne, pôle digestif, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Bonnet
Service de médecine interne, pôle digestif, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Sigur
Service de neurologie, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Gerdelat
Service de virologie, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Legrand-Abravanel
Service de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation d'organes, CHU Rangueil, 1, avenue du Professeur-Jean-Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France.
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Kamar
Service de médecine interne, pôle digestif, CHU Purpan, place du Docteur-Baylac, TSA 40031, 31059 Toulouse cedex 9, France. Electronic address: alric.a@chu-toulouse.fr.
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Alric
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D020275:Guillain-Barre Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D008297:Male
Anticorps antigangliosides; Antiganglioside antibodies; Guillain-Barré syndrome; Hepatitis; Hepatitis E virus; Hépatite; Immunoglobulines intraveineuses; Intravenous immunoglobulin; Polyradiculonévrite; Polyradiculopathy; Syndrome de Guillain-Barré; Virus de l’hépatite E