title: Chronic graft-versus-host disease of the liver presenting as an acute hepatitis following nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) of the liver usually presents as an indolent cholestatic disease. We observed 3 patients in whom chronic GVHD of the liver after allogeneic nonmyeloablative hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) presented with marked elevations of serum aminotransferases, clinically resembling acute viral hepatitis. The liver biopsies revealed predominant diffuse lobular injury and degenerative small bile ducts. Prompt administration of high-dose immunosuppressive therapy achieved a rapid improvement of liver enzymes and bilirubin levels. We conclude that a distinct syndrome of chronic hepatic GVHD presenting as an acute hepatitis should be considered as one possible explanation for hepatic dysfunction in patients who receive nonmyeloablative allogeneic HSCT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hoyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maeng
authors.forename: Jae-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: June Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Cheong
authors.forename: Seung Tae
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jee Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Yun Woong
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Yoo Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000628:therapy; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055728:Primary Myelofibrosis / Q000628:therapy; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D000637:Transaminases