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Fulminant hepatitis, possible virus origin: a report of seventeen cases in southern Thailand

W Mitarnun1

  • 1Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Thailand.

Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet Thangphaet
|December 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

A unique form of fulminant hepatitis, possibly viral, affected seventeen patients in Southern Thailand. This severe liver disease caused rapid fatalities, presenting distinct clinical and pathological features.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Fulminant hepatitis is a severe liver condition with high mortality.
  • Previous studies on fulminant hepatitis have not identified this specific clinical and pathological presentation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe a unique cluster of fulminant hepatitis cases in Southern Thailand.
  • To investigate the clinical, pathological, and potential etiological features of this specific hepatitis outbreak.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective case series analysis of seventeen patients with fulminant hepatitis.
  • Clinical and laboratory data collection, including liver function tests and serological markers.
  • Histopathological examination of liver tissue and electron microscopy for viral particles.

Main Results:

  • Seventeen patients presented with fulminant hepatitis, predominantly during the rainy season in Southern Thailand.
  • Clinical features included jaundice, central nervous system symptoms, liver, and acute renal failure.
  • Histopathology revealed massive hepatocellular necrosis, with electron microscopy identifying viral-like particles (70-90 nm) in liver cells. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in only 2/14 cases.

Conclusions:

  • The study identified a unique type of fulminant hepatitis in Southern Thailand, distinct from previously described viral hepatitis.
  • The findings suggest a potential novel viral etiology for this severe liver disease.
  • Further research is warranted to identify the specific causative agent and understand transmission dynamics.

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