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Possible autoimmune hepatitis induced after chronic active Epstein−Barr virus infection

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Abstract

Chronic active Epstein−Barr virus infection (CAEBV) can be manifested in a variety of systemic conditions, including interstitial pneumonia, malignant lymphoma, and coronary aneurysm. Sometimes it may be associated with hepatic failure, although the mechanism underlying CAEBV-related hepatotoxicity remains unclear. We encountered a case of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) associated with CAEBV. A 61-year-old male was referred to our hospital because of abnormal liver enzyme levels after initial diagnosis of CAEBV had been made by laboratory tests and liver biopsy. On admission, positivity for anti-nuclear antibody was evident, and examination of the liver biopsy specimen showed findings compatible with AIH. Steroid administration was initiated, and the liver function parameters subsequently improved. Although phenotypic changes in liver biopsy specimens are rare in this condition, the present case could provide clues to the possible pathogenesis of AIH.

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Abbreviations

CAEBV:

Chronic active Epstein−Barr virus infection

AIH:

Autoimmune hepatitis

ANA:

Anti-nuclear antibody

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Disclosures

Conflict of Interest:

Yoshiko Wada, Chikako Sato, Kyoko Tomita, Rika Ishii-Aso, Hiroaki Haga, Kazuo Okumoto, Yuko Nishise, Hisayoshi Watanabe, Tadasih Togashi, Yoshiyuki Ueno declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human/Animal Rights:

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2008(5).

Informed Consent:

Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, 2-2-2 Iidanishi, Yamagata, 990-9585, Japan

    Yoshiko Wada, Chikako Sato, Kyoko Tomita, Rika Ishii-Aso, Hiroaki Haga, Kazuo Okumoto, Yuko Nishise, Hisayoshi Watanabe, Takafumi Saito & Yoshiyuki Ueno

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  1. Yoshiko Wada
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  2. Chikako Sato
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  3. Kyoko Tomita
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  4. Rika Ishii-Aso
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  5. Hiroaki Haga
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  6. Kazuo Okumoto
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  7. Yuko Nishise
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  8. Hisayoshi Watanabe
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  9. Takafumi Saito
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  10. Yoshiyuki Ueno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kyoko Tomita.

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Wada, Y., Sato, C., Tomita, K. et al. Possible autoimmune hepatitis induced after chronic active Epstein−Barr virus infection. Clin J Gastroenterol 7, 58–61 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-013-0438-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12328-013-0438-2

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