title: Hepatic decompensation in the absence of obvious precipitants: the potential role of cytomegalovirus infection/reactivation.
abstract: Details of two patients with alcohol-related and mixed aetiology cirrhosis who developed acute-on-chronic liver failure/hepatic decompensation with no obvious precipitants are reported. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection or reactivation was diagnosed in both, and required treatment with ganciclovir in one. Both returned to baseline hepatic function and remain well. Physicians should be alert to the possibility that CMV might cause or contribute to hepatic decompensation in patients with cirrhosis, even if they are not severely immunocompromised, and especially if they are alcohol misusers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosi
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poretto
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavallin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angeli
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amodio
authors.affiliation: Infectious and Tropical Diseases Unit , Padova University Hospital , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sattin
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine , University of Padova , Padova , Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Montagnese
keywords: ACUTE LIVER FAILURE; ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE; ASCITES; CIRRHOSIS