A national survey of acute hepatitis E in France
Article first published online: 14 MAR 2008
© 2008 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Volume 27, Issue 11, pages 1086–1093, June 2008
How to Cite
RENOU, C., MOREAU, X., PARIENTE, A., CADRANEL, J.-F., MARINGE, E., MORIN, T., CAUSSE, X., PAYEN, J.-L., IZOPET, J., NICAND, E., BOURLIÈRE, M., PENARANDA, G., HARDWIGSEN, J., GEROLAMI, R., PÉRON, J.-M., PAVIO, N. and THE ANGH, FRANCE (2008), A national survey of acute hepatitis E in France. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 27: 1086–1093. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03679.x
- Issue published online: 14 MAR 2008
- Article first published online: 14 MAR 2008
- Publication data Submitted 3 February 2008 First decision 20 February 2008 Resubmitted 28 February 2008 Accepted 5 March 2008 Epub OnlineAccepted 14 March 2008
Background Few data are available on the incidence, risk factors and contamination pathways involved in acute indigenous hepatitis E in developed countries.
Aims To draw up an overall picture of hepatitis E cases, to confirm whether or not the majority of the cases were indigenous and to attempt to identify the risk factors and contamination pathways involved in hepatitis E.
Methods This study was performed in the framework of a national network (ANGH) including 96 participating centres. The 19 centres with at least one case of acute HEV reported a total number of 53 cases.
Results A decreasing South-to-North geographic gradient was observed. A nonspecific clinical profile was observed in many cases. Acute hepatitis E was of indigenous origin in 90% of the patients. The most relevant and/or frequent possible risk factors among the 47 indigenous metropolitan cases were water consumption from a personal water supply, uncooked shellfish consumption and the recent acquisition of a pet pig.
Conclusions This national survey confirmed that acute indigenous hepatitis E is an emerging disease in developed countries such as France, and suggests that various risk factors are responsible for acute indigenous hepatitis E contamination in non-endemic countries.