Acute hepatitis E virus infection and autoimmune thyroiditis: yet another trigger?
- 1Department of Medicine, Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- 2Private Office General Medicine, Bonn, Germany
- Correspondence to Mr Franz Ludwig Dumoulin, f.dumoulin{at}gk-bonn.de
Summary
A middle aged woman, previously healthy with the exception of mild seasonal asthma was presented with signs of acute hepatitis. The further investigation showed acute hepatitis E virus infection associated with autoimmune thyroiditis. Treatment was started with propranolol and carbimazol whereupon hepatitis and hyperthyroidism resolved. The authors think that the observed association of acute hepatitis E virus infection and autoimmune thyroiditis suggests a role of hepatitis E virus as putative trigger of autoimmune thyroiditis. The alternative possibility of thyroid dysfunction due to pre-existing autoantibodies cannot be completely excluded but seems to be unlikely given the very mild course of seasonal asthma in this patient.
Footnotes
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Competing interests None.
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Patient consent Not obtained.
