Related Experiment Videos
Fatal coxsackievirus B infection in early infancy characterized by fulminant hepatitis
1Department of Paediatrics, National Cheng Kung University Medical College and Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.
Insights
Fatal coxsackievirus B infection can cause severe, fulminant hepatitis in infants. Early diagnosis and recognition of liver involvement are crucial for prognosis in neonatal hepatitis cases.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Hepatology
- Virology
Background:
- Coxsackievirus B infections can lead to severe outcomes in infants.
- Fulminant hepatitis is a rare but serious complication.
Observation:
- Retrospective review of five infants with coxsackievirus B fulminant hepatitis.
- Clinical course characterized by severe hepatitis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC).
Findings:
- Coxsackievirus B1 and B3 were identified as causative agents.
- Extensive hepatocellular necrosis observed in pathological findings.
- Fulminant hepatitis is a primary presentation of disseminated coxsackievirus B infection in neonates.
Implications:
- The liver is a primary target organ in fatal coxsackievirus B infections in infants.
- Rapid progression to jaundice and coagulopathy indicates a poor prognosis.
- Coxsackievirus B hepatitis poses a significant threat to young infants.
Objectives:
to clarify the major features of fatal coxsackievirus B infection characterized by fulminant hepatitis in early infancy.
Methods:
clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations concerning five consecutive young infants with overwhelming coxsackievirus B fulminant hepatitis between 1994 and 1997 were retrospectively reviewed. Aetiological diagnosis was made by viral cultures and confirmed by a neutralization test with a type-specific antiserum.
Results:
all five had a deteriorating clinical course of severe hepatitis complicated by disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC). Coxsackievirus B1 infection was established in four patients and coxsackievirus B3 in one. The pathological findings of the two cases illustrated extensive hepatocellular necrosis. Fulminant hepatitis can occur as a leading presentation of disseminated coxsackievirus B infections and dominant the clinical features in neonates and young infants.
Conclusions:
the liver was the target organ of fatal coxsackievirus B infection in our patients. Hepatic involvement progressed rapidly to jaundice and coagulopathy, and was considered to be indicative of poor prognosis. Coxsackievirus B hepatitis may be serious in early infancy.