Diagnostic Dilemma

Hepatitis A with hematemesis


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Question
A 4½ years old girl born of non-consanguineous marriage presented with 2-3 episodes of vomiting containing food particles following by coffee-colored vomitus and fever. There was no jaundice, pain in the abdomen, drug ingestion, bleeding from other sites, or altered sensorium. Birth history and family history were non-contributory. She has never had any major illness in the past. Milestones were normal. On examination, vital parameters were normal. She had a just palpable liver and spleen. Other systems are normal. Investigations showed:
• Hemoglobin = 11.6 gm/dl
• WBC = 8,500/cumm [60% polymorphs, 40% lymphocytes]
• Platelets = 2,31,000/cumm
• Prothrombin Time (PT) = 12.6 sec (Normal)
• Partial thromboplastin Time (PTT) = 26.6 sec (Normal)
• Bilirubin = 3.0 mg% (Direct = 1.4 mg%)
• SGOT = 2220 IU/L, SGPT = 2550 IU/L
• Total proteins = 5.8 gm%, Albumin = 3.8 gm%
• Serum electrolytes, creatinine, sugar = Normal
• Serum alkaline phosphatase = Normal
• Ultrasound abdomen and color doppler = Normal. Portal vein = 6.8 mm. No collaterals.
• Serum ammonia = 171 µg/dl (Normal = 30-90 µg/dl)
• Oesophageogastroscopy = Hiatus hernia with erosive gastritis
• HAV IgM = Positive
• HBsAg and HCV = Negative

Is hepatitis A the cause of the hematemesis?
Expert Opinion :
Hepatitis A in this child is responsible for liver disease and jaundice. However, it has not led to any coagulopathy as PT & PTT are normal. Hematemesis in the child with liver disease is either due to portal hypertension or coagulopathy. This child has neither of the two and hence liver disease does not seem to be the cause of hematemesis. Hiatus hernia leads to bringing up of the part of the stomach over the diaphragm. This itself leads to the incompetence of the lower esophageal sphincter which can lead to gastroesophageal reflux. Recurrent GER can predispose to gastritis and in this child, with multiple vomiting episodes, gastritis gets aggravated leading to erosions and hematemesis. Thus, hiatus hernia is the cause of hematemesis and not Hepatitis A.
Answer Discussion :
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yes.
1 year ago
T
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billirubin
1 year ago

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