Successful Treatment of Acute Hepatitis-Associated Aplastic Anemia in a Young Boy: a case report.

BACKGROUND

Acute hepatitis-associated aplastic anemia (AHAAA) is a rare clinical syndrome characterized by the development of aplastic anemia 2-3 months following an episode of acute hepatitis. Several immunosuppressive agents, but not mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and bone marrow transplantation are the standard treatment options for AHAAA.

CASE REPORT: In this report, we present a case of a young boy with AHAAA manifesting as acute liver failure. The etiology was type 1 autoimmune hepatitis responsive to the second-line therapeutic combination of steroids and MMF. The liver has fully recovered, but bone marrow failure ensued. After 4 months, Clinical and laboratory improvement occurred without the need for bone marrow transplantation. An important aspect of this case is the full recovery of aplastic anemia without calcineurin inhibitors, anti-thymocyte globulin utilization, or bone marrow transplantation.

CONCLUSION

Our case history supports MMF as a potentially crucial adjunctive therapy for patients with AHAAA who poorly respond to standard procedures.