Idiopathic chronic active hepatitis: a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. 1994

M Al-Fadda, and M Zafar, and A Ayub, and K al-Kahtani
Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

A 56-year-old Saudi male was admitted with abnormal liver chemistry values and a > 5-month history of lethargy, malaise, anorexia, and jaundice. Extensive investigations did not establish an etiological diagnosis. Liver histology confirmed the clinically apparent aggressive hepatitis with fibrosis but gave no clue to its etiology. The patient was empirically treated with alpha-interferon for presumed non-A, non-B hepatitis, with clinical and biochemical worsening. Interferon was discontinued and the patient was started on immunosuppression. Dramatic clinical and biochemical improvement occurred, with normalization of the liver chemistry within 4 weeks. The patient has been followed-up for 12 months and has not suffered a relapse. This case highlights the etiological heterogeneity of chronic active hepatitis. The entity of autoimmune chronic active hepatitis is unclear, and perhaps it is better defined as steroid-responsive hepatitis. Steroid-responsive hepatitis should always be considered in cases of cryptogenic chronic active hepatitis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011239 Prednisolone A glucocorticoid with the general properties of the corticosteroids. It is the drug of choice for all conditions in which routine systemic corticosteroid therapy is indicated, except adrenal deficiency states. Di-Adreson-F,Predate,Predonine,Di Adreson F,DiAdresonF
D003937 Diagnosis, Differential Determination of which one of two or more diseases or conditions a patient is suffering from by systematically comparing and contrasting results of diagnostic measures. Diagnoses, Differential,Differential Diagnoses,Differential Diagnosis
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D006521 Hepatitis, Chronic INFLAMMATION of the LIVER with ongoing hepatocellular injury for 6 months or more, characterized by NECROSIS of HEPATOCYTES and inflammatory cell (LEUKOCYTES) infiltration. Chronic hepatitis can be caused by viruses, medications, autoimmune diseases, and other unknown factors. Chronic Hepatitis,Cryptogenic Chronic Hepatitis,Hepatitis, Chronic, Cryptogenic,Hepatitis, Chronic Active,Hepatitis, Chronic Persistent,Chronic Active Hepatitis,Chronic Hepatitis, Cryptogenic,Chronic Persistent Hepatitides,Chronic Persistent Hepatitis,Hepatitis, Cryptogenic Chronic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001327 Autoimmune Diseases Disorders that are characterized by the production of antibodies that react with host tissues or immune effector cells that are autoreactive to endogenous peptides. Autoimmune Disease,Disease, Autoimmune,Diseases, Autoimmune
D001379 Azathioprine An immunosuppressive agent used in combination with cyclophosphamide and hydroxychloroquine in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. According to the Fourth Annual Report on Carcinogens (NTP 85-002, 1985), this substance has been listed as a known carcinogen. (Merck Index, 11th ed) Azathioprine Sodium,Azathioprine Sodium Salt,Azathioprine Sulfate,Azothioprine,Immuran,Imuran,Imurel,Sodium, Azathioprine

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