CLINICAL PROFILE OF PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH HEPATITIS E UNDER GASTROENTEROLOGY DEPARTMENT OVER 3YRS IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE

Hepatitis E is an important cause of Acute viral hepatitis in India. Usually self limiting, it however can turn fatal in pregnant women and in those with preexisting Chronic Liver Disease. Objectives - to study the clinical profiles of patients diagnosed with Hepatitis E over a period of 3 years. Methods - IgM elisa for hepatitis E was done for positive confirmation of hepatitis E infection. 63 patients - 50 males and 13 females were studied. Jaundice was the commonest symptom followed by anorexia, vomiting and abdominal pain.Complications were minimal with complete recovery in the general population.No mortality occured in the general population.Out of the 3 pregnant women studied, one progressed to Hyper-acute liver failure which improved with treatment while the remaining two had an uncomplicated course. Among 22 patients with preexisting Chronic Liver Disease, 13 patients progressed to ACLF out of which 5 succumbed to the complications and the remaining 8 recovered.