A study tracking 6,452 organ transplant recipients at Toulouse University Hospital found that 65.1% of those infected with hepatitis E developed chronic infection within three months without treatment changes, while the antiviral ribavirin eliminated the virus in 91.5% of cases, according to research published in Hepatology, actu.fr reported.
While the infection typically resolves spontaneously in the majority of cases, transplant recipients face a fundamentally different clinical trajectory.
Why 228 Infections Reveal a Hidden Vulnerability in Transplant Medicine
Between 2001 and 2024, researchers led by Professor Nassim Kamar, in collaboration with the virology laboratory of Professor Jacques Izopet, analyzed cases of hepatitis E among 6,452 transplant patients. Of these, 228 contracted the virus. The data show that without therapeutic adjustment, 65.1% of infected patients presented with chronic infection three months after diagnosis, confirming that treatments that allow to avoid graft rejection can limit the body’s capacity to eliminate the pathogen.
The study's scope reflects more than two decades of sustained investigation into hepatitis E at Toulouse, which has published nearly 150 studies on the virus.
What Transplant Patients Should Know About Hepatitis E
- Treatments that allow to avoid graft rejection can limit the body’s capacity to eliminate the virus, turning it into a chronic infection in 65.1% of cases three months after diagnosis when no therapeutic adjustment is made.
- Hepatitis E in transplant patients can cause complications that affect not only the liver, but also the kidneys and the nervous system.
When the Virus Attacks Kidneys and Nerves, Not Just the Liver
The Toulouse team documented complications that affect not only the liver, but also the kidneys and the nervous system. "Nos travaux ont également permis de mettre en évidence des complications de l’hépatite E qui ne touchent pas uniquement le foie, mais aussi les reins et le système nerveux," explains Professor Nassim Kamar.
| Metric | Finding | Clinical Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Total transplant patients studied (2001–2024) | 6,452 | Long-term cohort at the center |
| Patients contracting hepatitis E | 228 | Infection cases among studied transplant recipients |
| Ribavirin treatment success rate | 91.5% | Gives results in this percentage of cases |
How Ribavirin Became the Frontline Defense
The study confirms the effectiveness of a treatment, ribavirin, which gives results in 91.5% of cases. Transplant patients rely on pharmacological intervention as the virus can persist in persons having received an organ transplant.
Early screening is important. The Toulouse team emphasizes the importance of early screening for greffés persons. These long-term works have already evolved therapeutic practices for greffés patients having contracted hepatitis E.
From Toulouse to Global Transplant Protocols
As the first center in France for renal transplantation, CHU de Toulouse's teams have conducted works published in the international scientific review Hepatology.
References
- Research published in Hepatology. Reported by actu.fr, November 4, 2026, by Lucie Fraisse.
