Fulminant dengue hepatitis in sickle cell disease: Recovery against the odds

Abstract

Fulminant hepatitis is a potentially life-threatening disease that is evident through the findings of organ dysfunction, jaundice, and hepatomegaly, which is painful. Dysfunction of the endothelial cells and thus the damage of the endothelium is the probable mechanism, which is responsible for causing complications of hepatobiliary system in patients with sickle cell disease. Various acute as well as chronic manifestations of the hepatobiliary system, having varied severity and pathophysiology are associated with sickle cell disease. Dengue fever may also affect the liver starting from asymptomatic liver enzyme derangement to fulminant hepatic failure. This case series describes the first ever association of fulminant hepatic failure resulting from the synergistic effect of dengue fever with sickle cell disease and thus highlights the importance of prevention of dengue fever in sickle cell patients, thereby preventing potentially lethal fulminant hepatic failure.

Keywords

• dengue
• fulminant hepatitis
• sickle cell disease
• tropical diseases