Hepatitis C infection: a rare cause of fulminant hepatic failure. uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Fulminant hepatic failure is caused by a variety of viruses, toxins, and metabolic derangements. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes indolent development of cirrhosis and has not been associated with fulminant hepatic failure. We report the first documented case of fulminant hepatitis C in the United States. The patient developed jaundice and stage IV encephalopathy. Initial laboratory evaluation did not reveal the etiology. The patient survived without liver transplantation. Three wk later he was found to have a positive HCV RNA and anti-HCV antibody seroconversion. He continued to improve with alpha-interferon treatment and has normal liver function and a negative HCV RNA 15 months later.

publication date

  • January 1, 1995

Research

keywords

  • Hepatic Encephalopathy
  • Hepatitis C

Identity

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0028878130

PubMed ID

  • 7801910

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 90

issue

  • 1