French researchers have developed a treatment to treat hepatitis E. They report encouraging results of two cases with infection and cared for by their discovery. It is a real advanced against this virus that affects not only the poorest countries..

After two weeks of treatment, their liver function returned to normal. After four weeks, the virus became undetectable in the body. Finally, following the arrest of treatment (respectively 6 and 3 months to date), the liver function remains normal and the hepatitis E virus remains undetectable.

Researchers, however, remain cautious. Clinical trials should be realized quickly in order to validate and extend this treatment.

In its acute form, the infection can be fatal in the elderly, pregnant women and in people suffering from liver. Immunocompromised individuals (transplant patients, chemotherapy patients and people living with HIV) infection of hepatitis E virus may evolve into chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis result.

The hepatitis E virus is the leading cause of viral hepatitis in the world and it is estimated that one third of the world population has been infected by this virus. The risk factors for HEV infection are related to poor sanitation in many parts of the world. Water or food contaminated transmit the disease. It is possible that the virus is transmitted by eating meat from animals susceptible to infection, such as pork, venison.