L'hépatite E

Hepatitis E is endemic in many developing countries and is transmitted via contaminated water. In industrialized countries, it was considered as rare and imported from endemic areas. Autochthonous hepatitis E transmission from animal reservoirs (swine, wild boar, deer) is now recognized. Fulminant hepatitis occurs in the context of preexisting chronic liver disease or during pregnancy. Acute hepatitis E can lead to chronic infection in immunocompromised patients. Several approaches can induce virus eradication: reduction of immunosuppressive drugs, pegylated treatment interferon-α, ribavirin treatment. Therefore, patients with unexplained hepatitis should be tested for IgM antibodies and HEV RNA in sera and stools whatever their travel history.