Fulminant herpes hepatitis in a healthy adult - A treatable disorder?

Citation
M. Velasco et al., Fulminant herpes hepatitis in a healthy adult - A treatable disorder?, J CLIN GAST, 28(4), 1999, pp. 386-389
Citations number
24
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenerology and Hepatology
Journal title
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY
ISSN journal
0192-0790 → ACNP
Volume
28
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
386 - 389
Database
ISI
SICI code
0192-0790(199906)28:4<386:FHHIAH>2.0.ZU;2-F
Abstract
Hepatitis due to herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a potentially fatal disorder that is often not considered in the differential diagnosis of acute hepati tis. This disease occurs most often in patients with impaired immunity and is very uncommon in healthy patients. HSV hepatitis presents with a wide cl inical spectrum, and the clinical diagnosis is difficult. We describe a cas e of disseminated herpes virus infection with fulminant hepatitis mimicking an acute human immunodeficiency virus infection in a 33-year-old healthy m an. Preliminary studies suggest that early treatment of HSV hepatitis with acyclovir may be beneficial in these patients. A high index of suspicion an d the availability of early diagnostic tools, such as HSV DNA detection, ma y dramatically improve the clinical outcome of severe HSV hepatitis.