Review
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World J Hepatol. Jun 27, 2014; 6(6): 394-409
Published online Jun 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i6.394
Challenge of liver disease in systemic lupus erythematosus: Clues for diagnosis and hints for pathogenesis
Fernando Bessone, Natalia Poles, Marcelo G Roma
Fernando Bessone, Natalia Poles, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, University of Rosario School of Medicine, Rosario 2000, Argentina
Marcelo G Roma, Institute of Experimental Physiology (CONICET-UNR), Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rosario, Rosario 2000, Argentina
Author contributions: Bessone F designed the review objectives and supervised the review structure; all the authors were involved in reviewing the literature for latest contributions in the field, writing, and edition of the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Fernando Bessone, Gastroenterology and Hepatology Department, University of Rosario School of Medicine, Alvear 740, 1st floor, Rosario, 2000, Argentina. bessonefernando@gmail.com
Telephone: +54-341-4259265 Fax: +54-341-4259265
Received: January 17, 2014
Revised: March 8, 2014
Accepted: May 14, 2014
Published online: June 27, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: The existence of liver disease associated with lupus itself, or increased susceptibility to concomitant liver diseases, either autoimmune or non-autoimmune ones, is still somewhat controversial, and difficult to diagnose. Data in the literature are scarce, and often based on case reports or clinical studies with limited patient size or histological evidence. The pros and cons to support the existence of such pathological entities, and the still preliminary studies on the mechanisms involved, are critically discussed here. We concluded that liver is often a target of systemic lupus erythematosus, and biochemical liver tests should be systematically carried out in these patients.