A case of acute hepatitis E caused by HEV-contaminated blood transfusion in a patient with anti-HEV IgG

Abstract

We report a case of acute hepatitis E caused by contaminated blood products in a patient who had experienced hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection in the past. A 74-year-old man received blood transfusion for aortic valve replacement. Although HEV RNA was negative, anti-HEV IgG was positive before blood transfusion, indicating that he had experienced HEV infection in the past. Liver dysfunction was noted 2 months after the blood transfusion. Serological data revealed that anti-HEV IgA and HEV RNA were positive and that the genotype of HEV was 3b. In addition, HEV RNA was detected in a residual sample of the transfused blood. Because the partial nucleotide sequence of HEV isolated from the patient was almost identical to that of the transfused blood, we diagnosed him with acute hepatitis E caused by HEV-contaminated blood. Therefore, further screening is warranted to prevent hepatitis E caused by blood transfusion.