Recurrent postinfantile syncytial giant cell hepatitis after orthotopic liver transplantation

Abstract

Syncytial giant cell hepatitis is a severe form of hepatitis characterized by diffuse giant cell transformation of hepatocytes. The disease may evolve to chronic cholestatic cirrhosis necessitating liver transplantation. We report the case of an adult liver transplant recipient presenting with early recurrent disease without concomitant clinicobiochemical syndrome. Early recurrence of giant cell hepatitis after liver transplantation favors the hypothesis of a transmissible agent as the etiology of the disease. Routine follow-up liver biopsy is necessary in these cases in order to gain more information about the precise incidence and aggressivity of disease recurrence in the allograft.