Herpes virus hepatitis varies in presentation, ranging from asymptomatic to acute liver failure, in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised individuals. Hepatitis caused by the Herpesviridae family is uncommon and usually results in mild disease. It is also often self-limiting, although in certain populations especially immunosuppressed patients, it can cause severe infections, leading to acute to fulminant hepatic failure. In addition, some isolated cases of fulminant disease in immunocompetent individuals have been reported. As the presentation is frequently non-specific, it is important to maintain a high level of suspicion for these viral etiologies and start empiric therapy with antiviral agents as soon as possible. Liver transplantation is the last resort. Mortality remains high in fulminant hepatic failure caused by Herpesviridae without liver transplantation. Here we review the literatures on hepatitis caused by three members of the Herpesviridae family, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus and herpes simplex virus to discuss the epidemiology, diagnostic methods, clinical features and current management, and also to determine which aspects need to be investigated in further detail. Herpesviridae-mediated acute liver failure is rare but is associated with a poor prognosis, even after early treatment.
The majority of gastrointestinal (GI) foreign bodies (FBs) discovered in adults are the result of intentional ingestion, most of which are found in patients with a preexisting psychiatric illness, with substance abuse disorders, or in people seeking secondary gain. No similar case of internal injuries following unintentional ingestion of a barbecue grill cleaning brush bristle has been reported. A 58-year-old Caucasian male with no significant history presented with complaint of halitosis, not improving after oral care and dental hygiene measures. He denied any other symptoms. After ruling out oral causes of halitosis, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy was performed, which revealed a black wire-shaped metallic FB embedded in the duodenum. The FB was identified as a silver metallic flexible wire resembling the bristle of a barbecue grill cleaning brush. The halitosis resolved completely within 3 weeks of the removal of the FB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of duodenal impaction of a barbecue grill cleaning brush bristle atypically presenting with halitosis. Physicians’ awareness of this potential injury from grill cleaning brush bristles would lead to a quick diagnosis after a focused history. Also avid grillers must be made aware of this potential hazard and should be encouraged to carefully examine the barbecue grill surface for any remnant bristle of the grill cleaning brush. Appropriate history taking, considering GI causes as potentially inducing halitosis, and an awareness of this entity among providers are important to facilitate prompt diagnoses and prevent major adverse outcomes.
Autoimmune disorders can develop prior to, during or after the onset of TCL. The diagnosis of TCL should prompt early recognition of certain autoimmune disorders if clinical suspicion exists. A dysfunctional immune response in these patients may be responsible for the occurrence of autoimmunity. Conversely, autoimmune conditions might create a favorable milieu for T-cell lymphoma pathogenesis. Therefore, their presence should increase the suspicion of TCL in an appropriate clinico-laboratory context. There is need for larger studies to assess further the TCL-autoimmunity relationship as prognosis and management of these patients can be considerably affected.
Most common reason for UGIH and LGIH readmission was related to gastrointestinal disease, followed by cardiac, infectious, and respiratory etiologies. By addressing these etiologies for readmission, it may be possible to reduce adverse outcomes.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.