Seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen following hepatitis E exacerbation on chronic hepatitis E and B dual infection in a renal transplant recipient: a case report

BACKGROUND Hepatitis E virus infection usually causes an acute and self-resolving hepatitis. In areas where chronic hepatitis B virus infection is prevalent, acute hepatitis E virus superinfection on chronic hepatitis B virus infection occurs sporadically. In recent years, however, chronic hepatitis E virus infection has been recognized in patients under immunosuppressant therapy. To the best of our knowledge, cases involving patients with chronic hepatitis E virus and hepatitis B virus dual infection have never been reported. CASE PRESENTATION A 47-year-old Taiwanese woman who was a renal transplant recipient with chronic hepatitis B virus infection was under immunosuppressant and antiviral treatment. An episode of hepatitis B exacerbation developed due to withdrawal of antiviral treatment against advice, but the flare subsided following antiviral re-treatments. However, an episode of hepatitis exacerbation developed following removal of the renal graft because of graft failure. During the hepatitis flare, she was still under successful antiviral suppression against hepatitis B virus, while her serum samples were positive for hepatitis E virus RNA. Following the hepatitis flare, seroclearance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen developed. From then on, she was under regular hemodialysis. Five years later, another episode of mild hepatitis exacerbation occurred again with positive serum hepatitis E virus RNA. Tracing back the longitudinal serum samples, serum hepatitis E virus RNA was persistently positive throughout the course. This patient was thus recognized to have chronic hepatitis E virus and hepatitis B virus dual infection with intermittent hepatitis E exacerbations. CONCLUSIONS In areas where chronic hepatitis B virus infection is prevalent, chronic hepatitis E virus coinfection can occur in organ transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant. Intermittent hepatitis E exacerbations may develop, interfering with the status of hepatitis B virus infection.