Introduction. Hepatitis A virus is a major cause of acute viral hepatitis worldwide, with approximately 1.5 million cases annually. Clinical manifestations of the hepatitis A virus infection range from asymptomatic to acute liver failure. Cholestatic viral hepatitis A is a rare clinical manifestation characterized by a prolonged course, refractory pruritus, imminent acute liver failure and generally good prognosis. The treatment of pruritus in cholestatic viral hepatitis A can be challenging because a response to conventional therapy is limited.

Case report. We present the effects of a combination of pulse doses of prednisolone and two cycles of MARS (Molecular Adsorbent Recirculating System) in the treatment of a young female patient with cholestatic viral hepatitis A. This treatment option significantly reduced the duration of the disease and the intensity of pruritus and led to full recovery of the patient and normalization of laboratory parameters of cholestasis.

Conclusion. This treatment combination has proven to have significant and lasting effects with no relapse of pruritus. Low doses of corticosteroids administered for a short time reduce the risk of side effects. The importance of vaccination of international travellers should be also pointed out here.

 

Keywords: acute viral hepatitis A, cholestasis, intractable pruritus, MARS, corticosteroids

 

Corresponding author:

Nemanja Đorđević

e-mail: nemanja.djordjevic@hotmail.com