Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis is a descriptive term given for any inflammation of the liver. It can be characterized as inflammatory cells infiltrating normal hepatic parenchyma, which destroys their ability to perform normal physiologic functions. Hepatitis is a common disorder in immunocompetent populations, mainly attributed to viruses, alcohol, drugs, or autoimmune causes.

CASE REPORT: Cytomegalovirus is a virus mostly affecting immunocompromised patients, resulting in infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms as well as hepatitis in liver transplant patients, but is generally benign in immunocompetent hosts. This report presents an unusual case of hepatitis caused by Cytomegalovirus in an immunocompetent patient with previous Herpes Simplex virus infection. A 20-year-old African-American woman presenting with intermittent subjective fevers and chills, sore throat, non-productive cough, and decreased appetite 1 month ago was diagnosed with a case of Cytomegalovirus-induced hepatitis.

CONCLUSIONS: This report clearly emphasizes the need for investigation of other disease entities such as Cytomegalovirus as a potential cause of hepatitis in an immunocompetent patient after more common causes of hepatitis have been ruled out.

Keywords: Cytomegalovirus - genetics, Cytomegalovirus Infections - virology, DNA, Viral - analysis, Diagnosis, Differential, Hepatitis, Viral, Human - virology, Immunocompromised Host, Polymerase Chain Reaction, young adult