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Gastroenterology Research

Case Report

Volume 10, Number 4, August 2017, pages 268-270

Acute Liver Failure in a Patient Travelling From Asia: The Other Face of the Coin of Infectious Disease

First onset of acute liver failure in patients with history of recent travel to tropical countries will suggest the need to exclude infectious diseases as an initial hypothesis. Importantly, delay in diagnosis may lead to an increase in mortality and morbidity. Dengue disease can be associated with acute liver failure. Dengue fever (DF) is mosquito born disease caused by any one of four related single-stranded RNA flavivirus from flaviviridae family [1, 2]. This virus is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The incubation period is 3 - 14 days. Dengue has a disease burden estimated to be 1,600 disability-adjusted life years per million population, which is similar to tuberculosis [3]. As a tropical disease, dengue is deemed only second in importance to malaria [4], though the World Health Organization counts dengue as one of 16 neglected tropical diseases [5]. The disease is endemic in more than 100 tropical and subtropical countries, comparable to malaria area distribution [2]. Therefore, in the era of easy travel across continents, we believe it is crucial that acute and emergency medicine physicians should familiarize themselves with all common tropical disease manifestations.

A 63-year-old male was travelling with his wife from India to UK. The patient became unwell, malaise and diarrhea whilst on the flight. Upon arrival to the UK, he continued feeling lethargic, with a loss of appetite, experiencing fevers and rigors. The patient reported loose stools up to three times a day, with no blood. Past medical history showed mild asthma and type 2 diabetes mellitus controlled by diet.

Two days after his arrival in the UK, he was admitted to the emergency department. Initial examination showed mild abdominal distension and tenderness in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. Blood pressure was 85/55 mm Hg, pulse was 87 bpm, oxygen saturation was 98% on room air and temperature was 36 °C. His platelet count was low (7 × 10⁹/L), with normal white cell counts (WCC) and hemoglobin with mild renal failure. Liver function tests (LFTs) were slightly deranged (Table 1). A marked metabolic acidosis on arterial blood gas analyses was noted. Hepatitis screen was sent soon after admission and result was available next day: negative for A, B and C viruses, negative for malaria parasite, and negative for influenza A (H1N1) virus. Chest and abdominal radiography were normal. The rest of virology screen was sent on day 3 and result was available after the death of the patient. The virology screen was positive for dengue virus antibodies IgM and IgG (Table 2). Subsequent overnight review revealed bleeding from mouth and urgent platelet transfusion was arranged. The patient remained hypotensive. An urgent CT of abdomen was requested (Figs. 1 and 2). This was followed by an urgent diagnostic laparoscopy to exclude a gangrenous gallbladder. At laparoscopy, a large amount of fluid in peritoneum was seen, with an inflamed and swollen liver.

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Figure 1. Transverse view of CT of abdomen.

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Figure 2. Longitudinal view of CT of abdomen. CT showed inflammatory changes around gall bladder likely gall bladder wall thickening or right colon ischemia.

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Table 1. Summary of Biochemistry and Complete Blood Count Results

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Table 2. Summary of Virology Screen Results

After laparoscopy, the patient was transferred to intensive care unit (ICU), required circulatory and respiratory support with initiation of hemofiltration. Despite transfusion of two units of platelet and four units of fresh frozen plasma, there was continuous oozing of blood from mucosal surfaces in association with anuric renal failure. Importantly, marked abdominal distension was noted, with a minimum response to maximal organ support. The patient deteriorated and died 72 h after admission. Post mortem showed fulminant hepatic failure and acute tubular necrosis of kidneys.

There is a huge increasing incidence of DF globally. It is estimated to be 50 - 100 million cases per year with most cases occurring in Asia and South America [2]. Dengue causes four spectra of illness: asymptomatic phase, acute febrile illness, classic DF and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) which includes dengue shock syndrome (DSS) [6, 7]. Liver involvement in DF includes hepatomegaly and deranged liver enzyme [8]. Transient variable liver function abnormalities are found in most of patients with symptomatic DF. This can be due to direct viral infection of hepatocytes or consequences of body immune response against virus causing deranged LFTs.

The association of hepatic failure to DHF/DSS was reported in epidemics of DF in 1970 in Indonesia, later on in the 1987 epidemic in Thailand and 1990 in Malaysia [9]. Several studies indicate poor prognosis of fulminant hepatic failure from DF [10-12]. The pattern of liver enzyme elevation appears to be mild to moderate in most cases of DF and AST raises higher than ALT levels [13].

The case presented had primary DF infection with acute hepatic failure and severe thrombocytopenia. Other diseases with similar presentation were ruled out including complicated malaria, leptospirosis and viral hepatitis. Pointers towards dengue in this case were the history of foreign travel, severe thrombocytopenia, marked coagulopathy, and hypotension with mucosal surface bleeding. The presence of dengue virus IgM favored the diagnosis of hepatic failure secondary to DSS. DF should be part of initial differential diagnosis in dealing with patients with acute liver failure and history of foreign travel.

The treatment is supportive in form of fluid replacement, correction of coagulopathy, ventilatory and circulatory support. Therefore, it is plausible to suggest that dengue can be one of the differential diagnoses in acute liver failure, especially in those with recent travel to endemic areas. It is worth mentioning that the incidence of dengue is rapidly increasing.

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