Adenovirus hepatitis in the adult allograft liver

Adenovirus hepatitis in the allograft liver is an uncommon condition hitherto recognized only in pediatric patients. We describe two adult cases.

Clinical information was obtained by reviewing the medical records. The diagnosis of adenoviral infection was made by immunohistochemistry or culture.

Both patients had received recent antirejection treatment and presented with fever, hepatic dysfunction, and progressive leukopenia. One patient had some viral inclusions resembling those described in herpes simplex infections. Adenovirus was cultured from the liver in both cases and from the lung in one case. Both patients were treated by decreasing the immunosuppression and intravenous acyclovir, but died.

Adenovirus infection should be considered when evaluating adult liver transplant patients with necrotizing lesions or microabscess formation at allograft biopsy. A review of the literature shows that most previously reported infections have led to graft loss or death, but occasional remissions of disease are also on record.