Hepatitis E Virus-Associated Cryoglobulinemia in Solid-Organ-Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Study.
1Nephrology and Organ Transplant Unit, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France
2Laboratory of Virology, CHU Purpan, Toulouse, France
Meeting: 2017 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 230
Keywords: Graft function, Hepatitis, Kidney/liver transplantation, Viral therapy
Session Information
Session Name: Concurrent Session: Infectious Complications of Transplant
Session Type: Concurrent Session
Date: Monday, May 1, 2017
Session Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm
Presentation Time: 3:18pm-3:30pm
Location: E265
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is responsible for acute and chronic autochthonous hepatitis in developed countries, particularly in Western Europe. Conversely to hepatitis B or C, the association between HEV and cryoglobulinemia is less documented. We prospectively evaluated the prevalence of cryoglobulinemia in HEV infected solid-organ-transplant recipients with resolving and chronic hepatitis and assessed the evolution of cryoglobulinemia in patients given ribavirin therapy.
Between November 2005 to June 2016, 89 patients with HEV infection were enrolled in the study: kidney- (n=56), liver- (n=24), cardiac- (n=4), pancreas- (n=1), lung- (n=1) and kidney-pancreas (n=3) transplant recipients. In this cohort, 39.3% of patients cleared HEV within the first 3 months after HEV diagnosis (n=35) while 60.3% developed chronic HEV infection (n=54).
Overall, the prevalence of cryoglobulinemia was 43.8% (n=39/89): 53.7% (n=29/54) in the group who developed a chronic hepatitis and 28.6% (n=10/35) in patients with resolving hepatitis. Cryoglobulinemia was significantly associated with chronic HEV infection appearance (OR=2.86, 95% CI, 1.078-8.068). No significant kidney function impairment or proteinuria was noticed in cryoglobulinemia positive patients. A 3-months ribavirin therapy (mean duration, 3.7 ±1.6 months) was given to all patients with chronic hepatitis and allowed HEV clearance in 78% of cases. After retreatment of relapsers, a sustained virological response was obtained for 95% of patients.
In 18 out of the 29 patients (62%) of cryoglobulinemia disappeared within ribavirin therapy. Nevertheless, 24% of cryoglobulinemia remained positive 6 months after the end of ribavirin therapy. Cryoglobulinemia is highly frequent during HEV infection in solid-organ-transplant recipients and could persist after viral clearance. Considering HEV endemicity in Western Europe with hyperendemic area, HEV markers should be check in case of cryoglobulinemia detection.
CITATION INFORMATION: Marion O, Abravanel F, Esposito L, Lhomme S, Del Bello A, Izopet J, Kamar N. Hepatitis E Virus-Associated Cryoglobulinemia in Solid-Organ-Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Study. Am J Transplant. 2017;17 (suppl 3).
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Marion O, Abravanel F, Esposito L, Lhomme S, Bello ADel, Izopet J, Kamar N. Hepatitis E Virus-Associated Cryoglobulinemia in Solid-Organ-Transplant Recipients: A Prospective Study. [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2017; 17 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/hepatitis-e-virus-associated-cryoglobulinemia-in-solid-organ-transplant-recipients-a-prospective-study/. Accessed July 12, 2025.« Back to 2017 American Transplant Congress