title: Seroprevalence of Hepatitis E Virus in Autoimmune Hepatitis Patients in the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In recent years chronic courses of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection have been described in immunosuppressed individuals. This may implicate a potential role for HEV in the development of autoimmune diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Here we investigated the prevalence of HEV-antibodies in AIH patients in an endemic Central European country.
  
  
  METHODS
  HEV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and HEV RNA were determined in 354 and 377 AIH patients, respectively. Clinical characteristics and disease outcome parameters were retrospectively collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No HEV viraemic patients were identified in this cohort. A total of 106 AIH patients (29.9%) tested positive for anti-HEV IgG, and this figure was slightly higher compared to the prevalence in a reference cohort including 5,329 healthy Dutch blood donors (26.7%; P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the largest study on the association between HEV infection and AIH. Apparently silent HEV infection is present in a significant proportion of AIH patients, yet appears not to have significant clinical repercussions in this immune compromised group of patients. Nevertheless, since acute hepatitis E may present with histological and biochemical features of AIH, the possibility of a (concomitant) HEV infection should be considered in this category of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. n.vangerven@vumc.nl.
authors.forename: Nicole M F
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: van Gerven
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Annemiek A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van der Eijk
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Suzan D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Pas
authors.affiliation: Department of Blood-borne infections, Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Hans L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Zaaijer
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ynto S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Centre,Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Birgit I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Carin M J
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: van Nieuwkerk
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Chris J J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Mulder
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: de Man
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000276:immunology*; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012698:Serologic Tests; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D007074:Immunoglobulin G