A Study of Viral Hepatitis E Infection in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Mysore, South India

BACKGROUND. In this study, we aimed to explore the clinical and epidemiological profile of all patients with hepatitis E virus (HEV) who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Mysore, India and to further assess various factors that influence the prognosis of these patients. METHODS. Two hundred ninety patients with HEV infection were included in the study and interviewed. They were subjected to clinical examination and laboratory investigations, including complete hemogram, renal, and liver function tests. Viral markers for HBV, HAV, HCV, and HEV by hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-HAV, anti-HCV, and anti-HEV antibodies, respectively, were done using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. Final outcome was recorded in the form of discharge or death. RESULTS. Males had higher (82.8%) incidence of HEV infection. Yellowish discoloration of urine was the most common symptom, and icterus was the most common sign at presentation. Hepatomegaly was most common finding on abdominal examination. Mean duration of hospital stay was higher among diabetics (10 days vs 7.11 ± 3.52 days). Overall, mortality observed was 3.45%. A higher mean age (P = .000) and duration of hospital stay (P = .000) were associated with higher mortality. Mortality was significantly higher among patients with alcohol abuse (25% vs 0%) (P = .004). Higher mean prothrombin time-international normalised ratio (PT-INR) (1.6 ± 0.13 vs 1.21 ± 0.32), total bilirubin (20.3 ± 5.08 vs 11.33 ± 7.26 mg/dL), and direct bilirubin (15.05 ± 3.64 vs 6.35 ± 3.71 mg/dL) were associated with higher mortality, whereas lower mean serum albumin (2.6 ± 0.11 vs 3.41 ± 0.40 gm/dL) was associated with higher mortality. Increase in renal parameters (ie, urea [97 ± 33.48 vs 32.43 ± 18.41 mg/dL] and creatinine [2.9 ± 1.38 vs 1.12 ± 0.64 mg/dL]) and electrolyte imbalances (ie, hyperkalemia [5.95 ± 1.21 vs 4.29 ± 0.51 mmol/L] and hyponatremia [123 ± 3.56 vs 136.04 ± 2.97 mmol/L]) were associated with higher mortality. There were 20-fold increases in mean serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) values (SGPT: SGOT = 1.148) and a 1-fold increase in mean alkaline phosphatase. CONCLUSIONS. Higher mean age, duration of hospital stay, PT-INR, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, blood urea, serum creatinine, potassium values, alcohol abuse, presence of ascites, and fulminant hepatitis were associated with higher mortality, whereas lower mean serum albumin and sodium values were associated with higher mortality. Diabetics had a higher mean duration of hospital stay.