title: Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence Rate in HIV-Infected Patients in Germany: A Comparison of Two Commercial Assays.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cases of chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection have been described in HIV-infected patients. There are several commercial anti-HEV assays, but anti-HEV seroprevalence rates differ largely depending on the assay used. The aim of this study was to (1) compare two commercial anti-HEV assays in a German cohort of HIV-positive individuals, and (2) determine whether HEV takes chronic courses in controlled HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  246 HIV patients were tested for both HEV RNA and HEV antibodies. All patients received antiretroviral therapy, if this was indicated, according to European guidelines. All but 19 individuals had CD4+ counts above 200/µl. Anti-HEV IgG was determined by two independent commercial assays (Wantai and MP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the patients tested HEV RNA positive. Anti-HEV IgG was detected more frequently by the Wantai assay (26%) than the MP assay (1.6%, p < 0.001). Patients born in Europe tested more frequently positive for anti-HEV (p = 0.047) than individuals from other regions. Increasing age but not CD4 count correlated with a higher likelihood of anti-HEV positivity (R = 0.313, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  About one quarter of HIV-infected patients show evidence of previous HEV contact. The risk of developing chronic HEV infection is very low in individuals receiving appropriate antiretroviral therapy. The large variability in HEV seroprevalence rates determined by different assays requires consideration for the diagnostic workup of HIV patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pischke
authors.forename: Carolynne
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwarze-Zander
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bremer
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lehmann
authors.forename: Steffen B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wiegand
authors.forename: Anett
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gisa
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Behrendt
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Strassburg
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Manns
authors.forename: Heiner
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wedemeyer
authors.forename: Jürgen K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Rockstroh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012367:RNA, Viral