Hepatitis B virus carrier status linked to autoimmune hepatitis.
We describe a hepatitis B virus carrier who satisfied the criteria of autoimmune hepatitis proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. A 43-year-old Japanese female showed human leukocyte antigen typing including DR4 in addition to hypergammaglobulinemia, presence of autoantibodies, and liver histology suggestive of autoimmune hepatitis. Moreover, the predominant presence of hepatitis B core antigen in nuclei rather than in cytoplasm of hepatocytes suggested less of a possibility of liver cell damage related to hepatitis B virus infection. She completely responded to immunosuppressive therapy and no clinical or biochemical relapse has been recognized to date.
Murakami
C
C
First Department of Internal Medicine, Yamaguchi University, School of Medicine, Ube.
Hino
K
K
Okazaki
M
M
Fujii
K
K
Okuda
M
M
Hanada
H
H
Yamasaki
T
T
Okita
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D002353:Carrier State; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000209:etiology; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D001323:Autoantibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001379:Azathioprine