Acute adenovirus hepatitis in liver transplant recipients.

An acute or fulminant adenovirus hepatitis developed in 5 of 224 pediatric patients who were recipients of orthotopic liver transplants. All had received prednisolone, azathioprine, and cyclosporine as basal immunosuppression, and four received monoclonal (OKT3) or polyclonal (antithymocyte globulin) antibodies for steroid-resistant rejection episodes. These patients initially had high fever and a worsening condition for a mean of 73 days after transplantation (range 44 to 140 days). Results of biochemical tests showed very high serum levels of lactate dehydrogenase. Aspartate aminotransferase values were always markedly more elevated than those of alanine aminotransferase. Two patients had severe leukopenia. Results of histologic studies of the liver showed extensive areas of confluent necrosis and targetlike hepatocyte nuclei. Typical intranuclear viral inclusions were observed on electron microscopy. Adenovirus was cultured in all patients and in two relatives. Two patients died of liver failure; others recovered after cessation of immunosuppression. We conclude that adenovirus hepatitis can be fatal in liver transplant recipients. There is no specific treatment, and immunosuppression must be discontinued.