Hepatitis E virus infection as a cause of acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of acute hepatitis in developing countries, whereas it is not considered a major health problem in Western World.

Aims: To investigate the spread of HEV and its possible role in causing acute hepatitis in Southern Italy.

Methods: Four hundred and thirty patients observed from April to December 2009 were studied and grouped as follows: 55 individuals with acute hepatitis (AH), 33 of whom cryptogenic; 321 individuals with chronic liver diseases (CLD), (278 Italians and 43 immigrants); 54 individuals without liver disease (control-group).