Clinical characteristics and risk factors of sporadic Hepatitis E in central China

• Main Authors: Xia Ningshao, Zhang Jun, Ge Shengxiang, Yuan Quan, Wang Jingjing, Zhang Shujun, Tian Deying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2011-04-01
• Series: Virology Journal
• Online Access: http://www.virologyj.com/content/8/1/152

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Epidemiological investigations, detections and vaccines of hepatitis E (HE) have been paid a focus of attention in prior studies, while studies on clinical features and risk factors with a large number of sporadic HE patients are scarce.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sporadic HE can occur throughout the year, with the highest incidence rate in the first quarter of a year, in central of China. Of the 210 patients, 85.2% were male, and the most common clinical symptoms were jaundice (85.7%), fatigue (70.5%) and anorexia (64.8%). Total bilirubin (TBil), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and international normalized ratio (INR) were found as major risk factors for death of HE patients. There was an overall mortality of 10%, and the mortality in the cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic group was 25% and 6.47%, respectively. Moreover, hepatitis E virus (HEV) infected patients with liver cirrhosis had a higher mortality and incidence of complications.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>TBil, BUN, and INR are major risk factors of mortality for HE. Liver cirrhosis can aggravate HE, and lead to a higher mortality. HEV infection can cause decompensation in patients with cirrhosis, as evidenced by a worsening Child-Pugh score.</p>