Hepatitis E virus (HEV) does not appear to be a significant cause of hepatic decompensation among persons with previously stable, advanced chronic hepatitis C in the US, according to a study of stored serum samples from 1,050 patients with previously stable, advanced chronic hepatitis C. Researchers found:

• 30% of participants experienced a clinical event.

• Of 314 participants who experienced decompensation, 28% were tested for anti-HEV, along with a group of controls without decompensation.

• Similar proportions of cases and controls tested positive for anti-HEV.

• 10 incident HEV infections were identified; 4 in cases and 6 in controls.

• HEV RNA was not detected in blood samples from the 10 incident infections.

• Only 2 of the 4 incident infections among cases were temporally related to the decompensation event.

Citation: Samala N, Wright EC, Buckler AG, et al. Hepatitis E virus does not contribute to hepatic decompensation among patients with advanced chronic hepatitis C. [Published online ahead of print January 25, 2016]. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2015.12.048.