TY - JOUR
T1 - Autoimmune hepatitis in a genetically susceptible patient
T2 - Is it triggered by acute viral hepatitis A?
AU - Hilzenrat, Nir
AU - Zilberman, Doron
AU - Klein, Tirza
AU - Boaz, Z. U.R.
AU - Sikuler, Emanuel
PY - 1999/11/11
Y1 - 1999/11/11
N2 - The pathogenic mechanisms for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are not completely known. Susceptibility to AIH is associated with the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II: DR3 and DR4. Nevertheless, AIH does not have a strong genetic predisposition, suggesting that other factors are involved. Perhaps the strongest evidence of a viral cause for AIH exists for hepatitis C virus. AIH has been reported to develop rarely after acute infection with hepatitis A virus. We report on a 55-year-old woman in whom AIH developed during the convalescence period of serologically proven acute viral hepatitis type A. HLA class II DRB1*0401, which was reported to be associated with AIH with a moderate coarse and late appearance in life, was found in this patient. Steroid therapy was followed by a complete clinical remission. Our case supports the possibility that acute hepatitis A may trigger the development of AIH in a genetically susceptible subject.
AB - The pathogenic mechanisms for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are not completely known. Susceptibility to AIH is associated with the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) class II: DR3 and DR4. Nevertheless, AIH does not have a strong genetic predisposition, suggesting that other factors are involved. Perhaps the strongest evidence of a viral cause for AIH exists for hepatitis C virus. AIH has been reported to develop rarely after acute infection with hepatitis A virus. We report on a 55-year-old woman in whom AIH developed during the convalescence period of serologically proven acute viral hepatitis type A. HLA class II DRB1*0401, which was reported to be associated with AIH with a moderate coarse and late appearance in life, was found in this patient. Steroid therapy was followed by a complete clinical remission. Our case supports the possibility that acute hepatitis A may trigger the development of AIH in a genetically susceptible subject.
KW - Autoimmune hepatitis
KW - Corticosteroids
KW - HLA class II
KW - IgM anti-HAV
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0032738227&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/A:1026645629103
DO - 10.1023/A:1026645629103
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0032738227
SN - 0163-2116
VL - 44
SP - 1950
EP - 1952
JO - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
JF - Digestive Diseases and Sciences
IS - 10
ER -