Elsevier

Journal of Hepatology

Volume 23, Issue 2, August 1995, Pages 204-208
Journal of Hepatology

Autoimmune hepatitis following hepatitis A virus infection

Dedicated to the memory of Dr. Attarin Huppertz.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-8278(95)80336-XGet rights and content

Abstract

A 7-year-old patient is reported who suffered from fatigue and jaundice due to chronic hepatitis. He had acquired hepatitis A virus infection to his German family 4 weeks later. While the other family members recovered from acute viral hepatitis A, the patient presented 10 weeks after the onset of hyperbilirubinemia (12 mg/dl) with the histology of chronic hepatitis, absence of markers for viral persistence, presence of autoantibodies against smooth muscle (1:320) and the asialoglycoprotein receptor (1:600), and marked hypergammaglobulinemia (3700 mg/dl), leading to the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. The patient received immunosuppressive therapy, symptoms of liver disease disappeared, and autoantibodies cleared from circulation. The case is discussed in the context of a putative virus-induced autoimmune hepatitis in childhood.

Autoimmune hepatitis may be induced by an external trigger. Hepatitis A virus infection is one of probably several triggers may induce autoimmune hepatitis is predisposed individuals.

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