Clinical manifestations of hepatitis A: recent experience in a community teaching hospital

Abstract

A study of the clinical profile of 59 patients who presented with hepatitis A virus infection showed that dark urine, fatigue, gastrointestinal complaints, and fever were the most common presenting symptoms. The most frequent physical findings were hepatomegaly and jaundice. The mean presenting laboratory tests included total bilirubin of 5 mg/dL, alkaline phosphatase of 269 units/L, and serum aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels of 1442 mIU/mL and 1952 mIU/mL, respectively. Atypical manifestations included relapse, cholestasis, rash, and arthralgia. Two patients presented with hepatitis A and concomitant type I autoimmune chronic hepatitis, and both required immunosuppressive therapy. Five patients who presented with hepatitis A were pregnant, and during follow-up, none of their infants developed elevated serum transaminase values or had detectable IgM anti-HAV antibody. All 59 patients experienced complete clinical and biochemical recovery within 6 months after onset of illness.