Severe exacerbation of hepatitis after short-term corticosteroid therapy in a patients with "latent" chronic hepatitis B

Liver. 2000 Oct;20(5):415-20. doi: 10.1034/j.1600-0676.2000.020005415.x.

Abstract

We present a case of severe exacerbation of hepatitis after short-term corticosteroid therapy for chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIPD) with "latent" chronic hepatitis B showing no HBV-related antigens and antibodies. After corticosteroid pulse therapy for CIPD, the patient had severe exacerbation of hepatitis twice. Although she did not show any hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related antigens or antibodies, sequences of HBV were detected in serum and liver by a nested polymerase chain reaction. A sequence analysis of HBV at the second exacerbation showed that the G-to-A point mutation at nucleotide 1896 that converted codon 28 from tryptophan (TGG) to a stop codon (TAG) in the precore region resulted in amino acid change, which has been frequently observed in fulminant hepatitis and severe hepatitis in Japan.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / pharmacology
  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Adult
  • Antigens, Surface / blood
  • Antigens, Surface / immunology
  • Base Sequence
  • Biopsy
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B virus / drug effects
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / complications*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / pathology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / virology
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Liver / drug effects
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver / virology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Point Mutation / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / complications*
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating / drug therapy*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Antigens, Surface
  • DNA, Viral