Liver involvement in severe human influenza a H1N1

Raúl Carrillo-Esper1, Estela Pérez-Bustos, Sofía Ornelas-Arroyo

  • 1Intensive Care Unit, Fundación Clínica Médica Sur.

Annals of Hepatology
|March 24, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Influenza A H1N1 infection can rarely affect the liver. This study details two cases of acute Influenza A H1N1 with liver involvement, showing steatosis on biopsy.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Hepatology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Influenza A virus, an RNA virus from the Orthomyxoviridae family, primarily causes pulmonary disease.
  • Severe cases can lead to acute pulmonary respiratory failure.
  • Hepatic involvement in influenza is uncommon, reported in less than 3% of cases.

Observation:

  • This report describes two patients diagnosed with acute Influenza A H1N1 infection.
  • Both patients presented with notable hepatic involvement.
  • Liver biopsy in one patient revealed micro and macrovesicular steatosis.

Findings:

  • Acute Influenza A H1N1 infection can manifest with hepatic complications.
  • Histopathological examination of the liver showed steatosis as a key finding.
  • This suggests a potential direct or indirect viral effect on liver metabolism.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering liver involvement in severe Influenza A H1N1 cases.
  • May prompt further research into the mechanisms of influenza-associated liver injury.
  • Informs clinical practice regarding the diagnosis and management of influenza complications.

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