Herpes hepatitis as a complication of total abdominal hysterectomy; an unusual complication of abdominal instrumentation

• Published in: Clinical case reports Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 11 - 14
• Main Authors: Yunce, Muharrem, Bhat, Pavan, Jaganathan, Daisy, Bahrain, Michelle
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-01-2019; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Abdomen; Case Report; Case Reports; Hepatitis; herpes hepatitis; Hysterectomy; Immunocompetence; immunocompetent; post‐operative complication; Bahrain; post‐operative complication; immunocompetent; herpes hepatitis
• ISSN: 2050-0904; 2050-0904
• DOI: 10.1002/ccr3.1890

Key Clinical Message
Herpes simplex virus hepatitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease without early intervention. Impaired immunity is a major predisposing risk factor but infection in immunocompetent individuals is not unheard of. Diagnosis is complicated by its rarity and nonspecific signs and symptoms on presentation. Identification by liver biopsy is often limited due to concurrent coagulopathy. Early and aggressive treatment is centered on antiviral therapy with acyclovir. We present a case of herpes hepatitis in an immunocompetent woman following abdominal instrumentation.
Herpes simplex virus hepatitis is a rare but potentially fatal disease without early intervention. Impaired immunity is a major predisposing risk factor but infection in immunocompetent individuals is not unheard of. Diagnosis is complicated by its rarity and nonspecific signs and symptoms on presentation. Identification by liver biopsy is often limited due to concurrent coagulopathy. Early and aggressive treatment is centered on antiviral therapy with acyclovir. We present a case of herpes hepatitis in an immunocompetent woman following abdominal instrumentation.