Two male patients with liver dysfunction were admitted to our hospital and diagnosed to acute hepatitis E by detection of IgA class anti-Hepatitis E virus antibody and Hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA. Following admission, liver dyfunction was improved by conservative treatment. Although the infection route of HEV was unknown, analysis of HEV genome sequence revealed that the HEV isolated from the two cases belonged to genotype 3 and had homology. So we considered that the HEV strains were presumed to be indigenous to Kitakyushu. Because fulminant hepatitis due to HEV has been reported, even in nonepidemic area, we need to pay attention to acute hepatitis E in treatment of patients with liver dysfunction of unknown origin.
