ACUTE EXACERBATION OF AUTOIMMUNE LIVER-DISEASE ASSOCIATED WITH HANTAVIRAL INFECTION

Hantavirus is known to cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (H FRS). Although liver dysfunction has been reported in HFRS, hepatic ma nifestations of hantaviral infection have not been well described. We describe a case of autoimmune cholangitis in which an exacerbation of hepatitis was associated with hantaviral infection. Seroconversion of both IgG- and IgM-class antibodies to hantavirus was noted coincident, vith acute exacerbation of hepatitis, which was resolved promptly by t reatment with corticosteroid. No extrahepatic manifestations mere note d. This case suggests that hantavirus may trigger acute exacerbation o f autoimmune liver disease without extrahepatic manifestations and tha t it may cause community-acquired hepatitis.