Postinfantile giant cell hepatitis complicating ulcerative colitis: A casereport and review of the literature

Giant cell hepatitis is common in the neonatal period. When present in adul ts, it is known as postinfantile giant cell hepatitis (PGCH). PGCH can aris e in the context of viral, drug-related, and autoimmune disorders but, in m any other cases, its etiology remains unclear. We report a case of PGCH occ urring in the setting of autoimmune hepatitis and ulcerative colitis. This case highlights the close association between PGCH and autoimmune disorders and the need to recognize it as a hepatic complication of inflammatory bow el disease. (Am J Gastroenterol 2001:96:1274-1277. (C) 2001 by Am. Coll. of Gastroenterology).