Concurrent primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis presenting as subfulminant hepatic failure
- 1Baylor College of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 8.35, 1709 Dryden Road, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- 2University of California at Davis, Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 6510, 451 Health Sciences Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- 3Baylor College of Medicine, Pathology, VA Medical Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- 4Baylor College of Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 151B, VA Medical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd Building, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Jason Ken Hou, jkhou{at}bcm.tmc.edu
- Published 17 March 2009
Summary
Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) overlap syndrome may be found in a significant percentage of patients with either PBC or AIH. However, it is conceivable that most cases of PBC-AIH overlap syndrome are a concurrent manifestation of both diseases which therefore requires treatment of both disease entities. While most cases are found in asymptomatic patients or in patients who have been previously diagnosed with PBC, our patient presented with concurrent PBC and AIH resulting in subfulminant liver failure that responded to treatment with prednisone and ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). Extended 4-year follow-up and treatment with UDCA confirmed the diagnosis of PBC and demonstrated serological resolution of AIH.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: none.
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Patient consent: Patient/guardian consent was obtained for publication.
