Autopsy and Case Reports
https://www.autopsyandcasereports.org/article/doi/10.4322/acr.2021.410
Autopsy and Case Reports
Autopsy Case Report

Fulminating herpes simplex hepatitis

Raheel Ahmed; Kesley Green; Silvio Litovsky; Sameer Al Diffalha

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Abstract

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare cause of acute hepatitis in patients with chronic immunosuppression, including Crohn’s disease. HSV hepatitis has the propensity to cause acute liver failure and death. The presenting signs and symptoms can be nonspecific, thereby causing the diagnosis to go overlooked with inadequate management, leading to a high mortality rate. We report a case of a 31-year-old male on chronic prednisone treatment for Crohn’s disease who unexpectedly died. Subsequently, an autopsy showed HSV hepatitis as the cause of death. Thus, although a rare complication, HSV hepatitis should always be kept in mind as a fatal complication in patients with acute hepatitis and chronic immunosuppression.

Keywords

Herpes Simplex Virus, Hepatitis, Crohn’s Disease, Prednisone

References

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Submitted date:
10/17/2022

Accepted date:
11/12/2022

Publication date:
12/14/2022

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