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Hepatology Communications Oct 2023We evaluated the proportion, clinical features, and outcomes of previously healthy children presenting to a large Canadian quaternary pediatric center with severe acute...
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the proportion, clinical features, and outcomes of previously healthy children presenting to a large Canadian quaternary pediatric center with severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology.
METHODS
All patients with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) > 500 U/L or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) > 500 U/L between June 1, 2018, and May 31, 2022, at The Hospital for Sick Children, were identified. Subjects with only AST > 500 U/L were excluded. Clinical characteristics, investigations, and outcomes for patients without clear etiology for ALT > 500 U/L (severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology) for our study period and from October 1 to May 31 of each year 2018-2021 were reviewed.
RESULTS
Of 977 patients with ALT/AST> 500 U/L, 720 had only ALT > 500 U/L. We excluded age below 6 months (n = 99) or above 16 years (n = 66), known pre-existing liver conditions (n = 66), and ALT > 500 U/L in already admitted patients (n = 151). Among the remaining 338 children with ALT > 500 U/L at presentation, an etiology was identified in 303 subjects. 33 (9.8%) children [median age 6.1 y (range 0.5-15.5); 61% male] were confirmed as severe acute hepatitis of unknown etiology. Twenty patients (60.6%) were tested for blood adenovirus by PCR, and 1 (5%) was positive (serotype B7). Liver tissue specimens from 18 patients revealed no evidence of viral inclusions or adenovirus. Twelve (36.3%) presented with pediatric acute liver failure, with 8 (24.2%) requiring liver transplantation. There were no deaths. Hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia occurred in 5 (15%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
Of children presenting with severe acute hepatitis to a quaternary children's hospital over a 48-month period, 9.8% had unknown etiology with no change over time. Liver transplantation remains an important treatment strategy for those presenting with pediatric acute liver failure phenotype. The frequency of cases associated with human adenovirus infection was noncontributory.
Topics: Humans; Child; Male; Infant; Female; Canada; Hepatitis; Hepatitis A; Acute Disease; Liver Failure, Acute
PubMed: 37756118
DOI: 10.1097/HC9.0000000000000272 -
Clinical Medicine (London, England) Apr 2016An outbreak of acute hepatitis C among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in the last decade has been shown to be sexually transmitted. Initially recreational...
An outbreak of acute hepatitis C among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in the last decade has been shown to be sexually transmitted. Initially recreational drug use, in particular drug injection, was not prevalent among those becoming infected with hepatitis C. However more recently chemsex (the use of drugs to enhance sexual experience) and its associated drugs, which are not uncommonly injected, have become more frequently reported among those diagnosed with hepatitis C. It is hoped that the widespread -introduction of direct-acting antivirals and upscaling of numbers treated may have a positive impact on this epidemic. However their introduction may negatively impact on the perceived risk of acquiring hepatitis C and in conjunction with the introduction of HIV transmission prevention strategies may result in increased transmissions and spread to the HIV-negative MSM population.
Topics: Hepatitis C; Humans; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 27037392
DOI: 10.7861/clinmedicine.16-2-189 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Jul 2021In this review the current overall knowledge on hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E will be discussed. These diseases are all characterized by liver inflammation but have... (Review)
Review
In this review the current overall knowledge on hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E will be discussed. These diseases are all characterized by liver inflammation but have significant differences in distribution, transmission routes, and outcomes. Hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus are transmitted by exposure to infected blood, and in addition to acute infection, they can cause chronic hepatitis, which in turn can evolve into cirrhosis. It is estimated that more than 300 million people suffer from chronic hepatitis B or C worldwide. Hepatitis D virus, which is also transmitted by blood, only affects hepatitis B virus infected people, and this dual infection results in worse liver-related outcomes. Hepatitis A and E spread the fecal-oral route, which corresponds mainly to the ingestion of food or water contaminated with infected stools. However, in developed countries hepatitis E is predominantly a zoonosis. Although hepatitis A virus and hepatitis E virus are usually responsible for a self-limiting hepatitis, a serious, rarely fatal illness is also possible, and in immunosuppressed patients, such as organ transplant recipients, hepatitis E virus infection can become chronic. The description of goals achieved, unresolved issues, and the latest research on this topic may make it possible to speculate on future scenarios in the world of viral hepatitis.
Topics: Animals; Goals; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Humans; Zoonoses
PubMed: 34366625
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i28.4603 -
Human Pathology Feb 2020Infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes, if not the most common, of acute hepatitis worldwide. In the last decade, we have learned... (Review)
Review
Infection with the hepatitis E virus (HEV) is one of the most common causes, if not the most common, of acute hepatitis worldwide. In the last decade, we have learned that, in addition to the endemically and epidemically occurring form of hepatitis E, which is predominantly transmitted by contaminated drinking water and constitutes a significant health problem in resource-poor countries, there is a globally existing form of hepatitis E, which is a zoonosis and as such is primarily transmitted by the consumption of contaminated meat products. Although in most cases hepatitis E is subclinical or mild and self-limiting, pregnant women and patients with liver cirrhosis may have severe, occasionally even fatal disease, and immunocompromised individuals may develop chronic hepatitis E. Considering the substantial global health burden caused by HEV infection, it is surprising how limited our knowledge of hepatitis E pathology still is. In this article, we describe localization studies on HEV infection and discuss their implications for everyday diagnostics. Furthermore, we outline and discuss the spectrum of histologic changes, which can be found in HEV infection in various clinical contexts.
Topics: Biopsy; Hepatitis E; Hepatitis E virus; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Liver; Predictive Value of Tests; Prognosis; Viral Proteins
PubMed: 31666196
DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2019.10.003 -
Journal of Korean Medical Science Sep 2019Until 1995, the incidence of symptomatic acute hepatitis A was minimal and there were no cases of national outbreak in Korea. However, there was a nationwide outbreak of... (Review)
Review
Until 1995, the incidence of symptomatic acute hepatitis A was minimal and there were no cases of national outbreak in Korea. However, there was a nationwide outbreak of hepatitis A that peaked in 2009. In 2019, a total of 10,083 cases of acute hepatitis A were reported for seven months of the year according to the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. This may be attributed to the proportion of susceptible subjects in the Korean population, as about 10 years have passed since herd immunity was induced by the epidemic occurring during the late 2000s. Recent studies have shown that the rate of seropositivity for anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies (anti-HAV) is the lowest in adults in their 20s and has not changed much over the past 10 years, and seropositivity of anti-HAV in adults in their 30s has continued to decline from 69.6% in 2005 to 32.4% in 2014. Most young adults who have not yet experienced hepatitis A and are not vaccinated are vulnerable to hepatitis A infection. This year's epidemic of hepatitis A is a predictable outcome for vulnerable populations. Therefore, effective acute hepatitis A control and prevention strategies are needed, particularly for those in their 20s and 30s.
Topics: Acute Disease; Cost of Illness; Hepatitis A; Hepatitis A Antibodies; Humans; Prevalence; Republic of Korea
PubMed: 31538417
DOI: 10.3346/jkms.2019.34.e230 -
BMC Medicine Jul 2022The ongoing investigations into clusters of children affected by severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology have put our global capacity for a coordinated, effective... (Review)
Review
The ongoing investigations into clusters of children affected by severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology have put our global capacity for a coordinated, effective response to the test. The global health community have rapidly convened to share data and inform the response. In the UK, where most cases were initially identified, a coordinated public health and clinical research response was rapidly initiated. Since then, cases have been reported from other countries, predominantly from higher-income countries. While agencies are keeping an open mind to the cause, the working hypothesis and case notifications raise important questions about our capacity to detect emerging cases in lower-resourced settings with a recognised lack of access to diagnostics even for commonly circulating viruses such as hepatitis A. The limited capability to generate integrated global pathogen surveillance data is a challenge for the outbreak investigations, highlighting an urgent need to strengthen access to diagnostics, with a focus on lower-resourced settings, to improve the capacity to detect emerging diseases to inform care and to improve outcomes and outbreak control.
Topics: Acute Disease; Child; Disease Outbreaks; Global Health; Hepatitis; Humans; Public Health
PubMed: 35906650
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-022-02471-5 -
Microbiology and Immunology Jan 2022Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the leading causes of acute and chronic hepatitis and represents a serious public health threat. Cytokines are important chemical...
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the leading causes of acute and chronic hepatitis and represents a serious public health threat. Cytokines are important chemical mediators that regulate the differentiation, proliferation, and function of immune cells, with accumulating evidence indicating that the inadequate immune responses are responsible for the elimination or persistence of HBV. This study aimed to determine the cytokine profiles (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17A) during HBV infection and investigate their association with genotypes. A total of 66 plasma samples, 19 from patients with acute and 47 with chronic hepatitis B infection, were subjected to biochemical tests, nested-PCR, and real-time PCR, with cytokines evaluated using a commercial BD Cytometric Bead Array Human Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokine Kit. Healthy controls (10 individuals) were selected from blood donors with no history of liver diseases. No correlation was found between genotypes, viral load, and cytokines analyzed. All cytokines showed higher levels of production among infected individuals when compared with the control group. A positive correlation classified as moderate to strong was found between cytokines IFN-γ, TNF, IL-10, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-2 through the Spearman correlation coefficient. TNF (P = 0.009), IL-10 (P < 0.001), and IL-6 (P < 0.001) levels were higher in acute individuals compared with chronic and control groups. Theses cytokines could be involved in the elimination of virus and protection against chronicity.
Topics: Cytokines; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Humans; Interferon-gamma
PubMed: 34647645
DOI: 10.1111/1348-0421.12947 -
BMC Gastroenterology Mar 2021Acute severe autoimmune hepatitis (AS-AIH) is a rare cause of acute liver failure (ALF), which is often neglected and delayed in treatment. The purpose of this study was...
BACKGROUND AND AIM
Acute severe autoimmune hepatitis (AS-AIH) is a rare cause of acute liver failure (ALF), which is often neglected and delayed in treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical characteristics and therapeutic effects of AS-AIH.
METHODS
Retrospective analysis was performed. AIH was diagnosed according to the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) criteria revised in 1999. AS-AIH was defined as an acute presentation (onset of symptoms to presentation of ≤ 26 weeks) and INR of ≥ 1.5, and no histologic evidence of cirrhosis.
RESULTS
Twelve patients were diagnosed as AS-AIH. At baseline, median immunoglobulin G was 28.35 g/L (range, 11.4-49.2). Ten (83.3%) patients were antinuclear antibodies and/or anti-smooth muscle antibodies positive. The prominent histologic characteristics were lobular necrosis/inflammation (91.7%) and plasma cell infiltration (100%). All patients received corticosteroid therapy. Death occurred in 2 (16.7%) patients within 30 days resulted from ALF. The average interval between the onset of symptoms and initiation of corticosteroid therapy in deceased patients was 65 days, compared with 19 days for survivors.
CONCLUSIONS
AS-AIH is an uncommon disease with poor outcomes. Patients with acute severe hepatitis of unknown cause should be minded the possibility of AS-AIH and corticosteroids should be considered as soon as possible.
Topics: Hepatitis, Autoimmune; Humans; Liver Failure, Acute; Retrospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 33648445
DOI: 10.1186/s12876-021-01653-4 -
PloS One 2022Hepatitis B is a major global public health threat. According to China's National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS), Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture... (Review)
Review
Hepatitis B is a major global public health threat. According to China's National Notifiable Disease Reporting System (NNDRS), Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture (Gannan) had the highest incidence of hepatitis B in Gansu Province during 2004 to 2016. We evaluated NNDRS hepatitis B case reports from Gannan to determine accuracy of diagnosis and to understand factors associated with inaccuracy. We reviewed medical records with hepatitis B diagnosis hospitalized in seven county hospitals in Gannan between January 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017. Using national "Classification and Diagnostic Procedures for Hepatitis B," we independently reclassified the diagnoses. We determined the positive predictive value (PPV) of reported hepatitis B cases. We investigate clinicians' understanding of the diagnostic and reporting criteria for hepatitis B by questionnaire. We reviewed and re-categorized 400 inpatients reported. Sixteen cases had been reported as acute hepatitis B, but on re-categorization, none were acute hepatitis B cases. PPVs for chronic hepatitis B and unclassified hepatitis B cases were 66% and 15% respectively; 327 (82%) of the reported hepatitis B cases were inaccurately classified; 261 were carriers, 59 were reported previously, and 7 did not have hepatitis B. The actual incidence of hepatitis B in Gannan in 2016 was estimated to be 19/100,000, significantly below the reported incidence of 106/100,000. Among reported cases, 81% had been tested for Alanine aminotransferase, 52% for hepatitis C antibody, 80% with liver ultrasound, 32% for hepatitis A antibody, and 7% for hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA. Not all cases were tested for anti-HBc IgM or hepatitis E antibody or had a liver biopsy. In the knowledge test, 56% of clinicians accurately diagnosed three simulated cases of acute hepatitis B, and 17% correctly diagnosed two simulated cases chronic hepatitis B; 22% knew that "a client with only HBsAg positivity need not be reported." The falsely high incidence in Gannan was due to diagnostic and reporting inaccuracies. We recommend that clinicians and laboratorians receive additional training in hepatitis B diagnostic criteria and reporting standards, including appropriate use of IgM anti-HBc tests. Hepatitis B surveillance data should be periodically reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
Topics: Alanine Transaminase; China; Hepatitis B; Hepatitis B Antibodies; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; Hepatitis B, Chronic; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 36122331
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274798 -
Viruses Dec 2022HEV is the most common cause of acute hepatitis globally. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, testing, and... (Review)
Review
HEV is the most common cause of acute hepatitis globally. This review summarizes the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, testing, and treatment of HEV infection. We also focused on Bangladesh to highlight the distinct challenges and the possible remedies. In low-income settings, the virus is mainly transmitted between people by fecal contamination of drinking water causing large outbreaks, and sporadic cases. The disease is usually mild and self-limiting acute hepatitis. Still, pregnant women and their offspring in low-income countries are at particular risk for severe disease, with up to 20% maternal mortality. Despite the high burden of the disease, HEV remains a relatively neglected virus, with detection hampered by costly tests and a lack of suitable treatments. Molecular PCR diagnostics, together with ELISA antibody tests, remain the preferred methods for diagnosis of HEV; however, rapid bedside diagnostics are available and could offer a practical alternative, especially in low-income countries. One vaccine (HEV 239) is only available in China and Pakistan, as efficacy against the other genotypes remains uncertain. The effectiveness trial conducted in Bangladesh might lead the way in gathering more efficacy data and could, together with improved surveillance and raised awareness, dramatically reduce the global burden of HEV.
Topics: Humans; Female; Pregnancy; Hepatitis E virus; Bangladesh; Hepatitis E; Disease Outbreaks; Genotype; Acute Disease
PubMed: 36680103
DOI: 10.3390/v15010063