Fulminant hepatic failure due to varicella zoster in a heart transplant patient: successful liver transplant.
Fulminant hepatic failure is a rare complication of infection by varicella zoster virus that is favored by immunosuppression. Within 1 week, a 43-year-old male heart transplant recipient who was admitted with epigastric pain successively developed a generalized vesicular rash, hepatitis, and secondary multiorganic failure involving encephalopathy, despite treatment with acyclovir (since Day 2) and varicella zoster virus immunoglobulin (since Day 6). Emergency liver transplantation was performed on Day 9, and 36 months later, his heart and liver function are normal.
Liver Transplant Unit, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, C/As Xubias 84, A Coruña, Spain. marlenqx@hotmail.com
Marlén
M
Alvite-Canosa
María Jesús
MJ
Paniagua-Martín
Julia
J
Quintela-Fandiño
Alejandra
A
Otero
María Generosa
MG
Crespo-Leiro
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006453:Hemoglobinopathies / Q000209:etiology / Q000821:virology; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000150:complications*; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000821:virology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000821:virology*; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D016559:Tacrolimus