Conservative Care was Successfully Used to Manage Acute Hepatitis A Infection with Blindness

Korean J Med > Volume 80(2); 2011 > Article

Original Article

The Korean Journal of Medicine 2011;80(2):305-309.

Conservative Care was Successfully Used to Manage Acute Hepatitis A Infection with Blindness

Min Hee Lim1, Sang Taek Heo3, Cha Young Kim1, In-Gyu Bae1,2, Jae Hee Kim1, Yun-Hong Cheon1, Chang Yoon Ha1,2

보존적 치료로 호전된 시력소실을 동반한 급성 A형 간염 1예

임민희1, 허상택3, 김차영1, 배인규1,2, 김재희1, 천윤홍1, 하창윤1,2

Abstract

Hepatitis A is usually a mild, self-limiting illness, but in certain cases it can develop into a severe or fatal disease. The most common symptoms of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection are fever, myalgia, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, and abdominal pain. Extrahepatic symptoms are rare, especially neurologic manifestations. We investigated a 34-year-old male who presented after suffering two days of fever, chills and general myalgia. His condition gradually deteriorated and he developed sudden blindness on day nine. This blindness lasted for 20 min and at this point abnormal brain images were observed. Initial tests for immunoglobulin M anti HAV were negative. These tests were repeated, later confirming acute HAV infection. After conservative management, the individual fully recovered. We report this extremely rare acute HAV infection case with metabolic encephalopathy exhibiting transient blindness.

Key Words: Hepatitis A; Encephalopathy; Blindness