Chronic Hepatitis E Infection in a Persistently Immunosuppressed Patient Unable to Be Eliminated after Ribavirin Therapy

Abstract

Recent case reports have shown that hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection can cause chronic hepatitis in immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients. A 37-year-old woman suffered from prolonged elevation of aminotransferases after chemotherapy for Burkitt's lymphoma and was diagnosed with chronic hepatitis E due to a transfusion during chemotherapy. After an 8-month administration of ribavirin, complete HEV clearance was not achieved, likely due to prolonged hypogammaglobulinemia. This case indicates that HEV infection should be ruled out during liver dysfunction in immunosuppressed or immunocompromised patients and suggests that an alternative therapeutic strategy for such patients will be needed.