title: Acute hepatitis E virus infection and autoimmune thyroiditis: yet another trigger?
abstract: A middle aged woman, previously healthy with the exception of mild seasonal asthma was presented with signs of acute hepatitis. The further investigation showed acute hepatitis E virus infection associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. Treatment was started with propranolol and carbimazol whereupon hepatitis and hyperthyroidism resolved. The authors think that the observed association of acute hepatitis E virus infection and autoimmune thyroiditis suggests a role of hepatitis E virus as putative trigger of autoimmune thyroiditis. The alternative possibility of thyroid dysfunction due to pre-existing autoantibodies cannot be completely excluded but seems to be unlikely given the very mild course of seasonal asthma in this patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Bonn, Bonn, Germany. f.dumoulin@gk-bonn.de
authors.forename: Franz Ludwig
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Dumoulin
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liese
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002231:Carbimazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016751:Hepatitis E / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D002231:Carbimazole; D011433:Propranolol