A marked decrease in CD4-positive lymphocytes at the onset of hepatitis in a patient with hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2012 Jul;34(5):375-7. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0b013e31822bf699.

Abstract

A 10-year-old Japanese boy developed acute hepatitis with high levels of serum Torque teno virus DNA and marked lymphocytopenia, especially CD4 T-lymphocytopenia. Although the total lymphocyte counts rose as the patient recovered from hepatitis, this was largely because of a marked rise in CD8 cells. In contrast, CD4 cells recovered poorly, resulting in a further striking fall in the CD4/8 ratio. Two months later, the patient developed hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia. He was successfully treated with immunosuppressive therapy, which normalized the lymphocyte subset proportions. T-cell subsets analysis at the onset of hepatitis might be useful for predicting development of hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Anemia, Aplastic / etiology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Child
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / complications*
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology
  • Humans
  • Lymphopenia / etiology*
  • Male
  • Torque teno virus / isolation & purification*

Supplementary concepts

  • T-Lymphocytopenia