%0 Journal Article
%T Fulminant hepatitis following primary herpes simplex virus infection in renal transplant recipients
%A Al Midani A
%A Pinney J
%A Field N
%A Atkinson C
%J Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation
%D 2011
%I Medknow Publications
%X Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a rare but well-recognized complication of pri-mary herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in immunocompromised patients. Here, we report two cases of acute hepatitis and FHF secondary to primary HSV type 1 infection following renal transplantation in the absence of any mucocutaneous manifestation. High levels of HSV type-1 DNA were detected in the blood. Both patients were seronegative for HSV 1 and HSV 2 immuno-globulin G (IgG) before transplantation, whereas the donor of patient 1 was HSV 1 IgG-positive but had no viremia and the donor of patient 2 was HSV-seronegative. Patient 1 recovered with acyclovir and immunoglobulin whereas patient 2 did not respond and succumbed to death. HSV-seronegative patients are potentially at risk of developing severe primary HSV disease following transplantation, particularly in the absence of routine anti-viral prophylaxis. HSV infection should always be excluded in transplant patients with hepatic dysfunction.
%U http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2011;volume=22;issue=1;spage=107;epage=111;aulast=Al