Premium
Noncirrhotic Portal Hypertension in Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection
Author(s) -
Ghishan Fayez K.,
Greene Harry L.,
Halter Susan,
Barnard John A.,
Moran J. Roberto
Publication year - 1984
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840040420
Subject(s) - medicine , portal hypertension , cirrhosis , propranolol , cytomegalovirus , liver biopsy , gastroenterology , fibrosis , hepatitis c , hepatitis , congenital hepatic fibrosis , biopsy , immunology , herpesviridae , viral disease , virus
The majority of infants with cytomegalovirus hepatitis have resolution of the disease with little evidence of fibrosis; there are only rare instances of cirrhosis. We report an infant with cytomegalovirus hepatitis who developed portal hypertension and hematemesis at 3 months of age. Liver biopsy showed resolution of the hepatitis but the presence of noncirrhotic sinusoidal fibrosis. Because of recurrent hematemesis in spite of sclerosing therapy on two occasions, the beta antagonist propranolol was begun. Hepatic wedge pressures before and after treatment with propranolol were 13 and 7 mm Hg, respectively. The findings emphasize: (i) that cytomegalovirus hepatitis may result in noncirrhotic sinusoidal fibrosis and (ii) that propranolol may be beneficial in the management of portal hypertension secondary to noncirrhotic sinusoidal fibrosis.