A case of fulminant hepatitis infected from her husband with HBS Ag positive cirrhosis

Abstract

A case of fulminant hepatitis highly suspected of infection from husband in marriage was reported. It was a 23-year old female who had married 3 months before present illness. She had no history of jaundice, liver disease or blood transfusion. She noticed symptom of common cold on January 13, 1976. On January 18, she developed yellowish skin and disturbance of consciousness. She was admitted in our hospital on January 19 and died on January 23. HBs Ag in her serum was positive by R-PHA and RIA. Patho-histological finding of her liver was acute massive hepatic necrosis. Her husband has been suffering from liver cirrhosis with HBs Ag for many years. Surveying his family members, all 4 persons tested were found to be chronic HBs Ag carriers. E antigen was detected in his serum and in serum of his mother. It was cosidered that this case represented an example of horizontal HB Ag infection by marital life. © 1977, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.