Pediatric Acute Hepatitis: Possible Evidence for a Causative Role of Adeno-Associated Virus 2

A severe form of hepatitis (acute hepatitis of unknown etiology [AHUE]) was noted in young children starting in late 2020, and adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2), a replication-defective viral strain in the parvoviridae family that requires coinfection with another virus (e.g., adenovirus, human herpesvirus), has been implicated as a likely culprit (NEJM JW Gen Med Jun 13 2023). Some 45% of U.S. children and 52% of European children with AHUE have tested positive for human adenovirus, suggesting that other factors may be involved. To explore this etiology further, investigators examined the antiviral antibody repertoires of nine patients with AHUE in search of specific adeno-associated virus antibodies.

Compared with pediatric and adult s…