Objective Hepatitis E virus (HEV) seropositivity may confer an increased risk of liver fibrosis in immunosuppressed individuals. We studied this effect in HIV-infected individuals in Nepal, a country hyperendemic for HEV. Participants and methods We prospectively evaluated 200 HIV-positive individuals. Serum samples were tested for components of fibrosis scores and cytokeratin-18. Results Of 200 patients, 43% were HEV-immunoglobulin G + . The mean fibrosis-4 score was 8.02 in the HEV-positive and 1.17 in the HEV-negative group (P<0.001). The mean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease score was 2.12 in the HEV-positive and − 2.53 in the HEV-negative group (P= 0.02). The mean aminotransferase-platelet ratio index score was 0.37 in the HEV-positive and 0.38 in the HEV-negative group (P=0.9). The mean cytokeratin-18 levels were 119.9 in the HEV-positive group and 158.6 in the HEV-negative group (P =0.08). Conclusion We found higher fibrosis-4 and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease scores in HEV-HIV-positive individuals, suggesting an increased liver fibrosis profile in this group. Further studies using liver stiffness measurements should be carried out. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 31:503–505

doi.org/10.1097/meg.0000000000001308, hdl.handle.net/1765/119406
European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Shah, S.M., Baniya, J.B., Gupta, B.P., Shrestha, A., Rodin, H., Boonstra, A., & Debes, J.D. (2019). Association between liver fibrosis and hepatitis E seroprevalence among HIV-positive individuals in Nepal. European Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 31(4), 503–505. doi:10.1097/meg.0000000000001308