Autoimmune hepatitis associated with the antiphospholipid syndrome

The antiphospholipid syndrome has rarely been described in patients with au toimmune hepatitis, Two cases with type I autoimmune hepatitis and antiphos pholipid syndrome are presented, The first case is that of a 53-year-old Ca ucasian female with a history of arterial thrombosis and fetal loss who was submitted to clinical and laboratory testing due to persistent transaminas aemia and was found to have autoimmune hepatitis. Antiphospholipid antibodi es (anticardiolipin antibodies and lupus anticoagulant) were positive. The second case is that of a 31-year-old Caucasian woman with a history of auto immune hepatitis who was submitted to laboratory testing due to a second-tr imester fetal death, revealing an increased activated partial thromboplasti n time and positive antiphospholipid antibodies, In conclusion, secondary a ntiphospholipid syndrome may accompany autoimmune hepatitis, Eur J Gastroen terol Hepatol 13:591-593 (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.