Korean J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr.  2009 Mar;12(1):88-92.

A Case of Chronic Hepatitis C Acquired throughEar Piercing and Acupuncture

• Rim JY
• Moon KR

Abstract

Although transfusion of blood and plasma products are accepted as the principle means of transmission of HCV, other parenteral methods, such as acupuncture, tattooing needles, piercing, and surgery are possible methods of transmission of HCV. We managed a case of chronic hepatitis C acquired through ear piercing and acupuncture. A 10-year old girl presented with nausea, abdominal pain, and anorexia for 1 month. Her laboratory finding showed the following: AST/ALT, 865/1,290 IU/L; positive anti-HCV Ab; and HCV RNA. One year previously, she was treated with acupuncture for an ankle sprain and 2 years previously, she had her ears pierced. Laboratory findings of family members showed AST/ALT in the normal ranges, and negative anti-HCV Ab and HCV RNA. The pathologic findings of a liver biopsy revealed chronic hepatitis with mild lobular activity, moderate porto-periportal activity, and portal fibrosis. She was treated with pegylated interferon alpha-2a and oral ribavirin for 6 months, after which the clinical symptoms and laboratory findings improved.

Keyword

Hepatitis C; Acupuncture; Ear piercing

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Acupuncture
Animals
Ankle
Anorexia
Biopsy
Body Piercing
Ear
Fibrosis
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C, Chronic
Hepatitis, Chronic
Humans
Interferons
Liver
Nausea
Needles
Plasma
Reference Values
Ribavirin
RNA
Sprains and Strains
Tattooing
Interferons
RNA
Ribavirin