Acute Hepatitis E virus Subtype 3e Infection with Prolonged Jaundice Improved with Inchinkoto

Abstract

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a globally prevalent waterborne and zoonotic infection, with approximately 20 million infections occurring annually in developing and industrialized countries. Reported here are the details of a 73-year-old Japanese man who contracted HEV subtype 3e after consuming self-prepared pork liver from a domestically raised pig and presented with severe liver enzyme elevation. Conservative treatment, including hepatoprotective therapy and Inchinkoto, an herbal medicine, was administered for prolonged jaundice, and recovery was achieved. Owing to the long incubation period and nonspecific symptoms, routine HEV testing is crucial for the differential diagnosis of acute liver failure to provide appropriate management.