HEPATITIS E INFECTION - А REVIEW

Abstract This review article summarizes the current knowledge about hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and focuses on its the potential impact on human health. HEV has four major genotypes that cause human disease. Clinical severity of infection varies with HEV genotype, age and immune status of infected individuals. HEV generally causes self-limiting acute hepatitis in young adults. Genotypes HEV-3 and HEV-4 have been responsible to the development of chronic infection in immunocompromised or transplant patients, those with pre-existing liver disease and cancer patients. HEV is associated with progression to fulminant liver failure and high maternal and fetal mortality during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester. HEV-induced extrahepatic complications can occur in both acute and chronic infection. Standard diagnostic tests for hepatitis E include the serologic and molecular assays.