Fulminant Multiorgan Failure Due to Varicella Zoster Virus and HHV6 in an Immunocompetent Adult Patient, and Anhepatia

Fulminant varicella hepatitis: a rare but lethal cause of abdominal pain

An 81-year-old woman with no history of immunocompromise presented with 2 days of upper abdominal pain associated with nausea. On arrival, her physical examination was unremarkable apart from mild epigastric and right hypochondriac tenderness, and laboratory investigations were unremarkable apart from mild thrombocytopenia and transaminitis. A CT scan performed on the day of admission revealed a tiny 0.3 cm stone in the common bile duct, with no upstream dilatation. On day 2 of admission, she developed a vesicular rash and with acutely worsening transaminitis. She deteriorated rapidly and demised from complications of acute liver failure within the next 24 hours. The diagnosis of varicella was confirmed with antibody testing. Fulminant varicella hepatitis is an extremely rare and lethal condition with only a handful of reported cases in the current literature. We aim to share our clinical experience and summarise the salient points from existing case reports.

Concurrent Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair and Liver Transplant: Multidisciplinary Management of Multiple Posttraumatic Lesions

Association of thoracic and abdominal injuries in patients with major trauma is common. Under emergency conditions, it is often difficult to promptly perform a certain diagnosis and identify treatment priorities of life-threatening lesions. We present the case of a young man with combined thoracic and abdominal injuries after a motorcycle accident. Primary evaluation through echography and X-ray showed fluid within the hepatorenal recess and an enlarged mediastinum. Volume load, blood transfusions, and vasoactive agents were initiated to sustain circulation. Despite hemodynamic instability, we decided to perform computed tomographic angiography (CTA) scan that revealed a high-grade traumatic aortic pseudoaneurysm, multiple and severe areas of liver contusion, and a small amount of hemoperitoneum, without active bleeding spots. The patient was successfully submitted to thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Immediately after the end of the successful TEVAR, signs of massive abdominal bleeding revealed. Immediate explorative laparotomy was performed showing massive hepatic hemorrhage. After liver packing and Pringle's maneuver, control of bleeding was lastly obtained with hemostatic devices and selective cross-clamping of the right hepatic artery. The patient was then transferred to intensive care unit where, despite absence of further hemorrhage, hemodynamic instability, anuria, severe lactic acidosis together with liver necrosis indices appeared. A new CTA demonstrated massive parenchymal disruption within the right lobe of the liver and multiple hematomas in the left lobe. Considering the high-grade lesions of the hepatic vascular tree and liver failure, patient was listed for emergency liver transplantation (LT). LT occurred few hours later, and patient's clinical conditions rapidly improved even if the subsequent clinical course was characterized by a severe fungal infection because of immunosuppression. Evaluation of life-threatening lesions and treatment priorities, availability of different excellence skills, and multidisciplinary collaboration have a key role to achieve clinical success in such severe cases.

Rare presentation of primary varicella zoster as fatal fulminant hepatitis in adult on low-dose,short-term steroid: Case report

Background

Varicella zoster virus presents clinically as primary (chickenpox) or secondary (herpes zoster) infection. Cutaneous and extracutaneous dissemination may occur, usually in immunocompromised patients. VZV hepatitis that progresses to fulminant hepatic failure is very rare and fatal. To the best of our knowledge, 9 cases have been reported to date, of which 7 were in immunocompromised adults, and only one patient was on short duration steroid therapy.

Presentation of case

We present a 26-year old man who was admitted initially with acute abdomen as query persistent biliary colic. Later, he showed clinical and laboratory findings of VZV hepatitis that progressed rapidly despite maximal medical ICU support and he expired on day 3 of admission.

Conclusions

Acute VZV infection may present as fulminant hepatitis. The presentation may initially be challenging for the diagnosis and should be considered if the patient has been in contact with a sick case. Low dose corticosteroid could carry a risk for fatal VZV fulminant hepatitis and should be used very cautiously especially with VZV patients' contacts. Further causative relationships remain to be established.

Varicella-Zoster Virus-Induced Hepatitis in a Liver Transplant Recipient: A Case Report

Infections after solid organ transplantation are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection after solid organ transplantation is rare. Here we present a case presenting with acute hepatitis and shingles after a liver transplantation (LT). A 36-year-old male patient underwent a liver transplantation; 7 months later his liver function tests increased. An examination and test results revealed that he had VZV-induced hepatitis. After VZV treatment, his test results returned to normal levels. Hepatic involvement of VZV infection is rare, but it may be fatal in immunocompromised individuals. Early diagnosis and early initiation of antiviral therapy is important in the control of hepatitis and rare hepatotropic viruses in immunocompromised individuals.

Acute Liver Failure due to Disseminated Varicella Zoster Infection

Acute liver failure (ALF) can be due to numerous causes and result in fatality or necessitate liver transplantation if left untreated. Possible etiologies of ALF include ischemia, venous obstruction, medications, toxins, autoimmune hepatitis, metabolic and infectious causes including hepatitis A-E, varicella-zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and adenovirus with VZV being the most rarely reported. Pathognomonic skin lesions facilitate diagnosis of VZV hepatitis, but definitive diagnosis is secured with liver biopsy, tissue histopathology, culture, and specific VZV polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Antiviral treatment with intravenous acyclovir can be effective if initiated in a timely manner; however, comorbidities and complications frequently result in high mortality, especially in immunocompromised hosts as exemplified in this case presentation.

Fatal varicella in immigrants from tropical countries: Case reports and forensic perspectives

The primary Varicella Zoster Virus (VZV) infection results in varicella, a generally benign, self-limiting disease in immunocompetent children. Despite the usual course a possible fatal evolution of the primary infection is observed predominantly in immunocompromised subjects and in adults, especially emigrating from tropical regions. Two cases of fatal varicella have been investigated and discussed. Death occurred in two patients over 40 years of age, coming from South Asia and receiving chronic immunosuppressive therapy. The forensic expert must be cautious and consider all clinical records in managing fatal varicella cases, bearing in mind risk factors and pre-existing conditions such as age, geographical provenance and pathological comorbidity, which may lead to a bad prognosis irrespective of therapies. Based on the severe and fatal course observed in the reported cases, an extension of the immunization program appears advisable for immigrants from tropical countries, especially before scheduled immunotherapy.

Fulminant hepatic failure attributed to infection with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) in an immunocompetent woman: A case report and review of the literature

Mild disease due to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) has been reported in healthy children. Severe disease due to this virus can occur in immunocompromised patients but is rarely reported in previously healthy adults. We report the case of a previously healthy woman who presented with a skin rash, mild upper respiratory symptoms, and abdominal pain and succumbed to fulminant hepatic failure attributed to infection with HHV-6B. HHV-6 may be more commonly associated with fulminant hepatitis in immunocompetent patients than previously thought and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with skin rash, upper respiratory symptoms, and unexplained hepatitis.

Successful rescue of disseminated varicella infection with multiple organ failure in a pediatric living donor liver transplant recipient: a case report and literature review

A 12-year-old female patient with biliary atresia underwent living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). Twelve months after the LDLT, she developed acute hepatitis (alanine aminotransferase 584 IU/L) and was diagnosed with disseminated varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection with high level of serum VZV-DNA (1.5 × 10⁵ copies/mL) and generalized vesicular rash. She had received the VZV vaccination when she was 5-years-old and had not been exposed to chicken pox before the LDLT, and her serum was positive for VZV immunoglobulin G at the time of the LDLT. Although she underwent treatment with intravenous acyclovir, intravenous immunoglobulin, and withdrawal of immunosuppressants, her symptoms worsened and were accompanied by disseminated intravascular coagulation, pneumonia, and encephalitis. These complications required treatment in the intensive care unit for 16 days. Five weeks later, her clinical findings improved, although her VZV-DNA levels remained high (8.5 × 10³copies/mL). Oral acyclovir was added for 2 weeks, and she was eventually discharged from our hospital on day 86 after admission; she has not experienced a recurrence. In conclusion, although disseminated VZV infection with multiple organ failure after pediatric LDLT is a life-threatening disease, it can be cured via an early diagnosis and intensive treatment.