Thrombocytopenia Associated With Acute Hepatitis B Infection
1 Combined Program in Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Acute hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in childhood is often subclinical. Fever, abdominal pain, anorexia, and jaundice are the most common findings in those 10% to 20% of children who are symptomatic.1 Rarely, urticarial rashes or arthralgias may precede these common symptoms and serum transaminase elevations.2 In this report, we describe the first case of isolated thrombocytopenia associated with acute HBV infection occurring in a child. The findings provide further supporting evidence for the ability of HBV to cause hematologic derangements. Since immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) of childhood is a relatively common disorder, often following acute viral infections, isolated thrombocytopenia occurring in the setting of acute HBV infection can present diagnostic difficulties, with significant therapeutic implications.
Submitted on April 6, 1992Accepted on July 10, 1992
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