Successful Treatment of Corticosteroid with Antiviral Therapy for a Neonatal Liver Failure with Disseminated Herpes Simplex Virus Infection

• Published in: American journal of perinatology reports Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. e089 - e092
• Main Authors: Maeba, Shinji, Hasegawa, Shunji, Shimomura, Maiko, Ichimura, Takuya, Takahashi, Kazumasa, Motoyama, Masashi, Fukunaga, Shinnosuke, Ito, Yoshinori, Ichiyama, Takashi, Ohga, Shouichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA Thieme Medical Publishers 01.10.2015; Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc
• Subjects: acyclovir; Case Report; fulminant liver failure; herpes simplex virus; methylprednisolone pulse therapy; newborn; herpes simplex virus; methylprednisolone pulse therapy; acyclovir; newborn; fulminant liver failure
• ISSN: 2157-6998; 2157-7005
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1398392

Abstract Background  Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection carries one of the poorest outcomes of neonatal liver failure (NLF). Neonates with disseminated HSV infection can develop hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), and occasionally need orthotopic liver transplantation. Early interventions may be critical for the cure of NLF. Case Report  We describe herewith a 6-day-old neonate with fulminant hepatic failure due to disseminated HSV-1 infection, who successfully responded to high-dose corticosteroid therapy 72 hours after the onset of disease. Preceding acyclovir, gamma globulin, and exchange blood transfusion therapies failed to control the disease. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy led to a drastic improvement of liver function and cytokine storms, and prevented the disease progression to HLH. Sustained levels of plasma and cerebrospinal fluid HSV DNA declined after prolonged acyclovir therapy. Bilateral lesions of the periventricular white matter areas, assessed by magnetic resonance imaging, disappeared at 3 months of age. The infant showed normal growth and development at 4 years of age. Conclusion  Early anti-hypercytokinemia therapy using corticosteroid, and prolonged antiviral therapy might only provide the transplantation-free cure of NLF with HSV dissemination.