1/8. Acute liver failure in pregnancy. A case report.BACKGROUND: Liver disease in pregnancy can be grossly divided into those disorders coincidentally occurring during the pregnant state and hepatic diseases limited to pregnancy. Numerous infectious agents can result in acute hepatitis and include not only the hepatitis viruses--A, B, C and E--but herpesvirus and cytomegalovirus as well. Coxsackie B viruses can cause several clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic to mild febrile illness to myocarditis and meningitis. Rarely has coxsackievirus infection been associated with fulminant hepatic failure. CASE: A Coxsackie B virus infection resulted in acute liver failure in a gravid woman. The patient was managed expectantly, with resolution of the liver disease and delivery five weeks after discharge. CONCLUSION: The onset of hepatic disease is insidious, with only vague symptoms or minor complaints often heralding the progression to liver failure. A careful history, physical examination and appropriate diagnostic tests can help determine the etiology of hepatic disease and help decide whether expectant management of the gravid patient or immediate delivery is appropriate.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Human herpesvirus 8 infection in hemodialysis patients.BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to evaluate human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) seroprevalence in Greek hemodialysis patients. Patterns of change in HHV-8 serostatus (seroconversions and seroreversions) over time were also evaluated. methods: serum samples obtained from a cohort of 485 Greek hemodialysis patients were tested for antibodies to HHV-8 by whole virus lysate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and reactive samples were confirmed by means of the orf-73 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HHV-8 seroprevalence at study entry and the incidence of seroreversions and seroconversions per 100 person-years were estimated. RESULTS: The prevalence of HHV-8 antibodies in Greek hemodialysis patients at enrollment was 7.2%. No univariate associations were established between HHV-8 serostatus and patients' characteristics. Incidences of seroreversions and seroconversions were 16.4/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 7.1 to 32.3) and 0.28/100 person-years (95% confidence interval, 0.03 to 1.02), respectively. patients 50 years and younger had an increased probability for seroreversion to HHV-8 antibodies than patients older than 50 years (log-rank test, P = 0.018). CONCLUSION: We observed a fair number of seroreversions and a low incidence of seroconversion to HHV-8 infection in hemodialysis patients in greece. Our data provide indirect evidence that HHV-8 transmission in the hemodialysis setting is uncommon.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 5keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. Human herpesvirus-6 hepatitis associated with cyclosporine-A encephalitis after bone marrow transplantation for chronic myeloid leukemia.A 31-year-old man referred to our hospital for treatment of his chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in the first chronic phase by bone marrow transplantation. We pretreated him with cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) was carried out. On day 31, the engraftment was confirmed and on day 52, acute graft versus host disease (GVHD) was observed. On day 189, he lost consciousness due to cyclosporine A-induced leukoencephalopathy and 375 mg cyclosporine A was changed to 100 mg prednisolone. On day 199, liver dysfunction (AST 410 IU/L, ALT 557 IU/L, gammaGTP 385 IU/L, ALP 363 IU/L, D-Bil 0.3 mg/dl) developed and a liver biopsy was performed. PCR analysis of dna from the liver biopsy specimen was positive for HHV-6 and immunostaining using anti-HHV-6 and anti-HHV-6b antibodies showed positive staining in the cytosol of hepatocytes. No other viruses were found to induce hepatitis. From these results, he was diagnosed as having HHV-6 hepatitis and it was successfully treated with gancyclovir (GCV) administration.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 4keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. ganciclovir and the treatment of Epstein-Barr virus hepatitis.Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is part of the herpesvirus family that infects up to 90% of the population. Initial infection is often subclincal in children but will generally result in symptomatic infectious mononucleosis in adolescents and adults. ganciclovir has been utilized in immunocompromised patients with EBV encephalitis and post-liver transplant for EBV fulminant hepatitis. Herein, the successful use of ganciclovir in two immunocompetent patients with severe EBV hepatitis is reported.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. Primary disseminated herpes simplex infection with fulminant hepatitis following renal transplantation.A patient had disseminated herpes simplex, type 1, virus infection manifested by fulminant hepatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulation. The diagnosis was established by isolation of the virus from throat, urine, and buffy coat and confirmed at autopsy by the visualization of typical inclusions, demonstration of herpesvirus particles by electron microscopy, and specific immunoperoxidase staining. Therapy with vidarabine did not alter the fatal course. On the basis of clinical features and serologic results, the case represented a disseminated primary infection with herpes simplex, rather than reactivation of an endogenous infection, following renal transplantation.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. Fatal massive hepatic necrosis from varicella-zoster hepatitis.An unusual case of varicella-zoster hepatitis is reported which resulted in fatal massive hepatic necrosis in a 64-year old white female. The patient had had chickenpox 30 years prior to death but no cutaneous zoster at any time. The liver showed typical eosinophilic intranuclear inclusions and herpesvirus virions were demonstrated by electron microscopy. Indirect immunofluorescent serologic studies confirmed remote and recent infection by varicella-zoster virus. The potential significance of an incidental splenectomy performed 14 months before death and the general role of immunosuppression in the incidence and dissemination of varicella-zoster are discussed. The features of 13 reported cases of herpes simplex hepatitis are briefly reviewed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. herpes simplex virus hepatitis: case report and review.Hepatitis is an unusual manifestation of herpesvirus infection. herpes simplex virus hepatitis is a difficult diagnosis to establish, and the infection is often fatal. We report one case of herpes simplex virus hepatitis and review 51 cases in the literature. Impaired immunity resulting from pregnancy, malignancy, immunosuppression, or inhalational anesthetics may be predisposing factors. fever, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, and a marked rise in serum transaminase levels are invariably present. Liver biopsy is the procedure of choice for diagnosis. The liver appears mottled and has a minimal inflammatory response. mortality rates associated with herpes simplex virus hepatitis are high, and early diagnosis and treatment with acyclovir or vidarabine may produce a favorable outcome.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. Chronic hepatitis in an infant, in association with human herpesvirus-6 infection.A 20-month-old boy was investigated for persistent liver dysfunction. Liver histologic findings showed chronic hepatitis. The presence of human herpesvirus-6 dna in liver tissue was demonstrated both by in situ hybridization and by polymerase chain reaction. Human herpesvirus-6 may be a causative agent of chronic hepatitis in this case.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 6keywords = herpesvirus (Clic here for more details about this article) |