title: Cholestatic hepatitis leading to hepatic failure in a patient with organ-transmitted hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: A 51-year-old heart transplant recipient who developed subfulminant hepatic failure because of organ-transmitted hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is described. He presented with a predominantly cholestatic liver damage after heart transplantation. An extensive evaluation, including abdominal ultrasound and computed tomography scan and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was unrevealing. Liver biopsy, however, was suggestive of a large duct obstruction with prominent portal and pericellular fibrosis, marked cholestasis, pericholangitis with marked ductular proliferation, and diffuse hepatocyte degeneration. Antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) was initially negative. He deteriorated in the ensuing 3 months. A repeat enzyme immunoassay-2 test for anti-HCV 4 months after initial presentation was weakly positive. Quantitation of serum HCV RNA by branched DNA assay revealed high level viremia, 547 x 10(6) genome equivalents per milliliter. Using in situ polymerase chain reaction, HCV RNA was detected in the cytoplasm in > 80% of the hepatocytes. The patient underwent interferon alfa therapy, and serum HCV RNA levels were reduced 20-fold after four doses. Unfortunately, the patient developed pulmonary aspergillosis and died. This case illustrates that in immunosuppressed patients anti-HCV is not a good marker for the diagnosis of HCV infection, and HCV can cause a progressive form of cholestatic liver disease mimicking a large duct obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville.
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: G L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Dolson
authors.forename: J Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lau
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001706:Biopsy; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015335:Molecular Probes / Q000235:genetics; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015335:Molecular Probes; D012367:RNA, Viral