Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis represents a rare complication of HSV infection, which can progress to acute liver failure and, in some cases, death. We describe an immunocompetent 67-year-old male who presented with one week of fever and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnet...

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Main Authors: Carrie Down, Amit Mehta, Gayle Salama, Erika Hissong, Russell Rosenblatt, Michael Cantor, David Helfgott, Kristen Marks
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Hepatology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8348172
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author Carrie Down
Amit Mehta
Gayle Salama
Erika Hissong
Russell Rosenblatt
Michael Cantor
David Helfgott
Kristen Marks
author_facet Carrie Down
Amit Mehta
Gayle Salama
Erika Hissong
Russell Rosenblatt
Michael Cantor
David Helfgott
Kristen Marks
author_sort Carrie Down
collection DOAJ
description Herpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis represents a rare complication of HSV infection, which can progress to acute liver failure and, in some cases, death. We describe an immunocompetent 67-year-old male who presented with one week of fever and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen showed multiple bilobar hepatic lesions, some with rim enhancement, compatible with liver abscesses. Subsequent liver biopsy, however, revealed hepatocellular necrosis, HSV-type intranuclear inclusions, and immunostaining positive for herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2). Though initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, following histologic diagnosis of HSV hepatitis, the patient was transitioned to intravenous acyclovir for four weeks and he achieved full clinical recovery. Given its high mortality and nonspecific presentation, one should consider HSV hepatitis in all patients with acute hepatitis with multifocal hepatic lesions of unknown etiology. Of special note, this is only the second reported case of HSV liver lesions mimicking pyogenic abscesses on CT and MRI.
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series Case Reports in Hepatology
spelling doaj-art-bbac51b42a064d5a859dc71d2b9feb442025-02-03T01:01:48ZengWileyCase Reports in Hepatology2090-65872090-65952016-01-01201610.1155/2016/83481728348172Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic AbscessesCarrie Down0Amit Mehta1Gayle Salama2Erika Hissong3Russell Rosenblatt4Michael Cantor5David Helfgott6Kristen Marks7Department of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Radiology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USADepartment of Pathology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10065, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USADivision of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 10021, USADivision of Infectious Disease, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 100021, USADivision of Infectious Disease, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY 100021, USAHerpes simplex virus (HSV) hepatitis represents a rare complication of HSV infection, which can progress to acute liver failure and, in some cases, death. We describe an immunocompetent 67-year-old male who presented with one week of fever and abdominal pain. Computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen showed multiple bilobar hepatic lesions, some with rim enhancement, compatible with liver abscesses. Subsequent liver biopsy, however, revealed hepatocellular necrosis, HSV-type intranuclear inclusions, and immunostaining positive for herpes virus type 2 (HSV-2). Though initially treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics, following histologic diagnosis of HSV hepatitis, the patient was transitioned to intravenous acyclovir for four weeks and he achieved full clinical recovery. Given its high mortality and nonspecific presentation, one should consider HSV hepatitis in all patients with acute hepatitis with multifocal hepatic lesions of unknown etiology. Of special note, this is only the second reported case of HSV liver lesions mimicking pyogenic abscesses on CT and MRI.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8348172
spellingShingle Carrie Down
Amit Mehta
Gayle Salama
Erika Hissong
Russell Rosenblatt
Michael Cantor
David Helfgott
Kristen Marks
Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
Case Reports in Hepatology
title Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
title_full Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
title_fullStr Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
title_full_unstemmed Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
title_short Herpes Simplex Virus Hepatitis in an Immunocompetent Host Resembling Hepatic Pyogenic Abscesses
title_sort herpes simplex virus hepatitis in an immunocompetent host resembling hepatic pyogenic abscesses
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/8348172
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