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Hepatitis caused by herpes viruses: A review
Author(s) -
Noor Arish,
Panwala Amruta,
Forouhar Faripour,
Wu George Y
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of digestive diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.684
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1751-2980
pISSN - 1751-2972
DOI - 10.1111/1751-2980.12640
Subject(s) - medicine , fulminant , herpesviridae , herpes simplex virus , fulminant hepatitis , liver transplantation , fulminant hepatic failure , cytomegalovirus , immunology , asymptomatic , liver disease , viral hepatitis , hepatitis , transplantation , virus , viral disease , pathology
Herpes virus hepatitis varies in presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to acute liver failure, in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Hepatitis caused by the Herpesviridae family is uncommon and usually results in mild disease. It is also often self‐limiting, although in certain populations especially immunosuppressed patients, it can cause severe infections, leading to acute to fulminant hepatic failure. In addition, some isolated cases of fulminant disease in immunocompetent individuals have been reported. As the presentation is frequently non‐specific, it is important to maintain a high level of suspicion for these viral etiologies and start empiric therapy with antiviral agents as soon as possible. Liver transplantation is the last resort. Mortality remains high in fulminant hepatic failure caused by Herpesviridae without liver transplantation. Here we review the literatures on hepatitis caused by three members of the Herpesviridae family, cytomegalovirus, Epstein–Barr virus and herpes simplex virus to discuss the epidemiology, diagnostic methods, clinical features and current management, and also to determine which aspects need to be investigated in further detail. Herpesviridae ‐mediated acute liver failure is rare but is associated with a poor prognosis, even after early treatment.