Case Report
Copyright ©2008 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 7, 2008; 14(17): 2780-2782
Published online May 7, 2008. doi: 10.3748/wjg.14.2780
Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases-related hepatic injury
Ying Zhang, Fu-Kui Zhang, Xiao-Ning Wu, Tai-Ling Wang, Ji-Dong Jia, Bao-En Wang
Ying Zhang, Fu-Kui Zhang, Xiao-Ning Wu, Ji-Dong Jia, Bao-En Wang, Liver research center, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
Tai-Ling Wang, Department of Pathology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100050, China
Correspondence to: Bao-En Wang, Professor, Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China. wangbbee@126.com
Telephone: +86-10-63164411
Fax: +86-10-63164411
Received: January 18, 2008
Revised: February 28, 2008
Published online: May 7, 2008
Abstract

Hepatic injury is rarely associated with undifferentiated connective tissue diseases (UCTD). We report, here, a case of a middle-aged woman with UCTD-related hepatic injury, including its case history, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment and its short-term effect. The patient was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of fatigue, anorexia, low-grade fever and skin rashes. She had a past history of left knee joint replacement. Laboratory tests showed elevated levels of serum transaminase, IgG and globulin, accelerated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia and a high titer of antinuclear antibodies (1:320). Imaging studies showed interstitial pneumonitis and hydropericardium. Liver biopsy showed the features which were consistent with those of connective tissue diseases-related polyangitis. After treatment with a low-dose of oral prednisone, both symptoms and laboratory findings were significantly improved. UCTD-related hepatic injury should be considered in the differential diagnosis of connective tissue diseases with abnormal liver function tests. Low-dose prednisone may effectively improve both symptoms and laboratory tests.

Keywords: Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases; Hepatic injury; Glucocorticoid