The Frequency of Hepatitis E in Renal Transplant Recipients in Isfahan City, Iran, on the Basis of Molecular Evaluation

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) belongs to the family of Hepeviridae and is the sole member of the genus Hepevirus. HEV infection by genotypes 3 and 4 may tend to chronic infection, especially in immunocompromised patients such as liver and renal transplant patients. This study aimed to assess the frequency of HEV infection in kidney transplant recipients.
This was a cross-sectional study on kidney transplant recipients in Isfahan City, Iran, in 2016. 100 renal transplant recipients were randomly selected and reviewed in Alzahra hospital. Blood samples were obtained from 100 eligible patients. Serum samples were screened for HEV RNA by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
Findings: Mean age of the patients was 48.2 ± 14.2 years and 63% of them were men. Based on molecular evaluation, all off 100 studied patients had negative results for HEV.
HEV infection is not an important problem in renal transplant recipient. It is recommended to check the patients with renal transplant for HEV when liver enzyme is elevated and it is not recommended as a routine lab test.