Hepatitis as the Presenting Feature of an HIV Seroconversion Illness

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 10; no. 10; pp. 687 - 688
• Main Authors: Bramkamp, G R, Holt, R I G, Bending, J J, Umasankar, R S, Cooke, R P D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.10.1999; Royal Society of Medicine Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections - diagnosis; AIDS/HIV; Biological and medical sciences; Hepatitis - complications; Hepatitis - diagnosis; HIV Seropositivity; Human immunodeficiency virus 1; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; hepatitis; HIV diagnosis; HIV seroconversion; Human; Immunopathology; Primary infection; Acute; Hepatic disease; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Infection; Case study; Hepatitis; Symptomatology; Viral disease; Digestive diseases; Inaugural sign
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/0956462991913132

Historically, patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) infection remained undiagnosed until they presented with an opportunistic infection, often years after infection. There has been recent interest in the early diagnosis of HIV with the recognition of an acute 'mononucleosis-like' seroconversion illness. Improved recognition of HIV infection permits early antiretroviral treatment and may reduce the risk of transmission through patient counselling. Clinicians need a high index of suspicion because of the protean manifestations of early HIV infection. Elevated hepatic aminotransferase levels may occur in primary HIV infection but acute hepatitis is rare. We report the case of a man whose presenting feature of acute hepatitis preceded a typical HIV seroconversion illness by 4 weeks.