title: Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) due to acute hepatitis C.
abstract: Acute hepatitis C (HCV) infection has been identified as an important cause of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), characterized by rapid deterioration of liver function from massive hepatic necrosis leading to encephalopathy and multi-organ failure. We admitted a female patient at Shalamar Hospital with jaundice, fever, encephalopathy and coagulopathy of short duration with no history of any comorbidity. Her hepatitis viral screen revealed positive anti HCV. Her viral loads were also high. A diagnosis of FHF due to acute HCV infection was made. Patient was treated conservatively and improved gradually. In summary, acute HCV can cause FHF and should be ruled out in patients with FHF of unknown cause in an endemic country for HCV like Pakistan.
authors.affiliation: Bilal Bin Younis, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Bilal Bin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Younis
authors.affiliation: Rozina Arshad, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rozina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arshad
authors.affiliation: Saima Khurhsid, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Saima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khurhsid
authors.affiliation: Junaid Masood, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Junaid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masood
authors.affiliation: Farhan Nazir, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Farhan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nazir
authors.affiliation: Maham Tahira, Sakina Institute of Diabetes and Endocrine Research, Shamalar Medical & Dental College Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Maham
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahira
keywords: Fulminant hepatic failure; HCV; Hepatitis