Liver failure occurring as a component of exertional heatstroke.
An unusual case of an exertional heatstroke in a healthy 25-year-old man is presented. Initially, the patient was deeply comatose and developed severe rhabdomyolysis and massive hepatic necrosis. Subsequently, he received a liver transplant with remarkable improvement in his mental status, although the rhabdomyolysis continued. The patient died 41 days after the transplant due to a complicating infection. Providing that infections can be effectively controlled, liver transplants might be a promising therapeutic alternative for the few patients who survive the initial neurological consequences of this unusual event.
Hassanein
T
T
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Perper
J A
JA
Tepperman
L
L
Starzl
T E
TE
Van Thiel
D H
DH
D000328:Adult; D006359:Heat Exhaustion / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012206:Rhabdomyolysis / Q000209:etiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000209:etiology