Acute Hepatitis E Induced the First Episode of Immune-Mediated Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura: The First Case Report

Overview

Journal Infect Drug Resist

Publisher Dove Medical Press

Date 2023 Aug 15

PMID 37581168

Authors

Fei Lv

Yue Zhao

Xing-Di Yang

Han-Zhu Chen

Wen-Ya Ren

Ling-Xia Chen

Qiao-Qiao Yi

Wei Zheng

Hong-Ying Pan

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: Hepatitis E virus infection mainly presents with liver-related symptoms, and multiple studies have shown that hepatitis E virus infection can also induce extrahepatic-related symptoms. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura is an uncommon and fatal thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by severe thrombocytopenia, organ damage, and microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia. We report the first case in which acute hepatitis E induced the first episode of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Patients And Methods: A 53-year-old male was admitted to our emergency department with fever, thrombocytopenia, and abnormal liver function. Laboratory tests revealed significant bilirubin, AST, and ALT elevations, renal impairment, positive anti-HEV IgM and IgG antibody results, schistocytes on the blood smear, 0% ADAMTS-13 activity, and positive ADAMTS13 inhibitor results. He was diagnosed with acute hepatitis E, which induced the first episode of immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Results: After receiving treatment with plasmapheresis, glucocorticoid medication, rituximab, and other supportive medicines, the patient's physiological circumstances and laboratory indicators improved, and a 4-month follow-up revealed no abnormalities.

Conclusion: This is a unique case report of an acute hepatitis E-induced immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura initial episode. This case report offers evidence that hepatitis E virus infection can cause thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. In patients with abnormal liver function and thrombocytopenia, we advise screening for hepatitis E or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Citing Articles

A case of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura induced by acute hepatitis E and successfully controlled by lymphoplasmapheresis plus rituximab.

Yu B, Zhu Y, Jin Z, Han F, Lv F Virol J. 2025; 22(1):39.

PMID: 39955583 PMC: 11829560. DOI: 10.1186/s12985-025-02649-2.

Three Distinct Reporter Systems of Hepatitis E Virus and Their Utility as Drug Screening Platforms.

Primadharsini P, Nagashima S, Nishiyama T, Okamoto H Viruses. 2023; 15(10).

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