Transient hepatic fibrin-ring granulomas in a patient with acute hepatitis A.
A case of acute hepatitis A associated with fibrin-ring granulomas in the liver is presented. Because a relationship between acute hepatitis A infection and granuloma formation had not previously been established, liver specimens were examined from both the hepatitic and recovery phases. Numerous fibrin-ring granulomas were observed in the parenchyma during the hepatitic phase. The cellular components of the granulomas were largely macrophages and CD4-positive T-cells. Granulomas had disappeared completely by the recovery phase. These results suggest that fibrin-ring granulomas were caused by hepatitis A virus infection. This virus may activate macrophages and CD4-positive T-cells through an as-yet undetermined mechanism.
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
T
T
Yamamoto
M
M
Ishii
H
H
Nagura
Y
Y
Miyazaki
M
M
Miura
T
T
Igarashi
T
T
Toyota
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D006099:Granuloma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male