Hepatitis E virus prevalence among chronic kdney disease hemodialysis-dependent patients

Abstract

Introduction: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for acute self-limiting disease worldwide, mostly among immunocompetent person. However it can be manifested in different forms, according to the immune state of the patient. A relevant group for studies of HEV infection is the chronic kidney disease hemodialysis-dependent (HD) population, which may be lead to a transplant and immunosuppressive treatment, mainly with tacrolimus and its analogues, which have been described as related to chronic hepatitis E. Also this special group has been reported to present higher prevalence in comparison to immunocompetent populations in HEV-GT3 (HEV -Genotype 3) circulating countries. In Brazil, the prevalence of HEV is still underestimated among HD patients.