원인 미상의 급성 간염에서 Erythrovirus B19 감염에 관한 연구

초록

Background/Aims: Erythrovirus B19 is associated with erythema infectiosum in children and acute arthropathy in adults. Moreover, it causes transient aplastic crisis in hemolytic anemia, chronic anemia in immunocompromised patients, and nonimmune fetal hydrops in pregnant women. Recently, acute hepatitis or fulminant hepatitis in children and adults has been reported infrequently in association with erythrovirus B19 infection. Therefore, we tried to evaluate the relationship between erythrovirus B19 and acute hepatitis of unknown etiology. Methods: Patient group included 70 patients with acute NANBNC hepatitis of unknown etiology, who were admitted to Korea University Guro Hospital from March 1995 to May 1999 (mean age, 48 years; M:F=1:1.7). Control group included 30 patients with chronic liver disease of unknown etiology admitted during the same period. (mean age, 49 years/ M:F=1.1:1). Nested PCR for erythrovirus B19 DNA was performed for sera of the patient and control groups. Results: Among the patient group, only one case was positive for erythrovirus B19 DNA PCR. The nineteen-year- old young man died of fulminant hepatitis of unknown etiology. Among the control group, none was positive for erythrovirus B19 DNA. Conclusions: These results suggest that erythrovirus B19 may be a cause of acute hepatitis of unknown etiology in Korea. In the future, a largescale investigation will be needed to clarify the role of erythrovirus B19 in young patients with acute or fulminant hepatitis of unknown etiology.

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