Multiple Cerebral Arterial Stenosis Associated with Hepatitis B Virus Infection

BACKGROUND: There are conflicting findings regarding the association between hepatitis B (HB) virus (HBV) infection and atherosclerosis. CASE REPORT: A 34-year-old man was admitted for transient dysarthria and facial palsy. Ten years previously he had been diagnosed with HBV infection and treated with lamivudine (100 mg/day). Reactivation of HBV was detected 6 months before this recent admission. Serologic tests revealed that he was positive for HB early antigen, HB surface antigen, and anti-HB core. Brain magnetic resonance images were normal, but magnetic resonance angiograms revealed severe stenosis of the right middle cerebral artery, both external carotid arteries, and the basilar artery. CONCLUSIONS: This case report reveals that a young patient with reactivated HBV developed multiple arterial stenoses even though he had no risk factors for this disease.