Fulminant hepatic failure in a neonate with systemic echovirus infection

摘要

We report the fatal case of neonatal fulminant hepatic failure due toEchovirus infection mimicking an acute metabolic decompensation.After exclusion of several metabolic disorders, the diagnosis of theinfectious etiology was confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction ofEchovirus in liver and spleen tissue. Establishment of etiological diagnosisand exclusion of inherited metabolic disease helped the familycounseling regarding risk for future pregnancies. Fulminant hepaticfailure in the neonate is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge thatrequires a multidisciplinary management. Our case illustrates thebroad differential diagnosis, the common final pathway leading to severeliver injury, and the multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis andtreatment.