Prolonged jaundice attributed to super infection of hepatitis E virus in a case of resolving leptospirosis

Indian J Med Microbiol. 2012 Jan-Mar;30(1):103-6. doi: 10.4103/0255-0857.93067.

Abstract

India is endemic for both Leptospira and hepatitis E virus (HEV). The clinical presentations of these diseases have overlapping features. We report a case of superinfection of HEV in a patient with resolving leptospirosis with underlying Hodgkin lymphoma. The diagnosis of HEV in our case was established by HEV-RNA PCR as our patient was immunosuppressed. The present study highlights the need for molecular diagnosis in the case of HEV infection with strong clinical suspicion and negative serological results.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • Hepatitis E / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis E / pathology*
  • Hepatitis E virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis E virus / isolation & purification
  • Hodgkin Disease / complications
  • Humans
  • India
  • Jaundice / diagnosis*
  • Jaundice / etiology*
  • Leptospirosis / complications*
  • Leptospirosis / pathology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Superinfection / diagnosis*

Substances

  • RNA, Viral