Y. Horsmans et al., AUTOIMMUNE CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS RESPONSIVE TO IMMUNOSUPPRESSIVE THERAPY EVOLVING INTO A TYPICAL PRIMARY BILIARY-CIRRHOSIS SYNDROME - A CASE-REPORT, Journal of hepatology, 21(2), 1994, pp. 194-198
The evolution from a characteristic picture of autoimmune chronic hepa
titis type I to primary biliary cirrhosis is reported in a middle-aged
woman. The initial diagnosis of autoimmune chronic liver disease was
based on clinical, bio-serological and histological grounds. It was fu
rther confirmed by complete remission following immunosuppressive trea
tment and prompt relapses at the time of therapy withdrawal. After 7 y
ears, the characteristics of liver disease were altered with increased
biochemical cholestasis and serum IgM concentrations, positivation of
previously negative anti-M2 antimitochondrial antibodies and the appe
arance of a typical histological picture of stage I primary biliary ci
rrhosis. We believe that this is the first reported case in which auto
immune chronic hepatitis highly responsive to immunosuppressive therap
y has been followed by the development of a characteristic picture of
primary biliary cirrhosis. (C) Journal of Hepatology.