Hepatitis B virus acute infection and fast self-limited recovery: a rare case report

Bo Qin¹, Minjun Xu², Jiefeng Ding¹

¹Shaoxing Women and Children’s Hospital, No. 305 East Street Road, Shaoxing 312000, Zhejiang, China- ^2,Shaoxing People’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Shaoxing 312000, Zhejiang, China

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) causes acute/chronic disease which depends on age, immune level, characteristics of infected strain, etc. To our knowledge, very few people can remove HBV infection rapidly in less than 2 weeks, especially at the age of 78. 

Case Presentation: A 78-year-old patient was hospitalized because of anorexia, naupathia and emesis for 2 days. It was diagnosed by sharp increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and positive HBV-associated markers. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate and reduced glutathione injection were administrated. Results: Without any anti-HBV therapy, about 10 days later, liver function was recovered miraculously, HBV antigens and DNA were positive-to-negative transformed, and kept HBV free in the latest follow-up. 

Discussion: Our experience with this case highlighted the importance of healthy lifestyle, wholesome immunity and timely vaccination to combat HBV.