Key result
Persistent replication of hepatitis A virus was implicated in the development of chronic hepatitis and esophageal varices in a single patient over 31 months.
Case Report (n=1)
This is the first reported case suggesting that persistent replication of Hepatitis A virus can lead to chronic hepatitis and potentially liver cirrhosis.
Single case implicates persistent HAV in chronic liver disease; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.
Hepatitis A virus (HAV) usually causes an acute self-limited illness. This report describes a patient with hepatitis A whose serum aminotransferase activities remained above normal and whose serum was persistently positive for immunoglobulin (Ig) M class anti-hepatitis A 31 months after the onset of hepatitis. Liver biopsy carried out 11 months after the onset of hepatitis showed histological changes consistent with chronic hepatitis of moderate severity. HAV RNA was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in feces collected at the time of the liver biopsy. Furthermore, the patient developed esophageal varices 25 months after the onset of hepatitis. We believe this to be the first reported case in which persistent replication of HAV is implicated in chronic hepatitis with the potential to develop into liver cirrhosis.
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Inoue et al. (1996) conducted a case report in Hepatitis A (n=1). Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection was evaluated on Development of chronic hepatitis and esophageal varices. Persistent replication of hepatitis A virus was implicated in the development of chronic hepatitis and esophageal varices in a single patient over 31 months.
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