Autoimmune cholangitis in a patient with thymoma.
Autoimmune cholangitis is characterized biochemically by chronic cholestasis and histopathologically by chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis. It is associated with positive antinuclear antibody test and negative antimitochondrial antibody test results. Recently, we experienced a case of a 35-year-old woman with autoimmune cholangitis associated with thymoma who presented with pruritus, jaundice, chronic fatigue and anterior chest discomfort. Her laboratory examinations revealed marked increases in levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. In serological tests, antinuclear antibody was found, but antimitochondrial antibody was not. Liver biopsy findings were compatible with chronic non-suppurative destructive cholangitis. On computed tomography (CT) of the chest, a large anterior mediastinal mass was found. The mass was totally resected and the patient was treated with ursodeoxy cholic acid. Thereafter, her clinical symptoms improved and liver functions completely returned to the normal range. We describe here an uncommon association of autoimmune cholangitis with thymoma, which has not been reported previously in the English-written literature.
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Jang-Ha
JH
Kim
Byung-Ho
BH
Kim
Youn-Wha
YW
Kim
Joo-Cheol
JC
Park
Yong Hee
YH
Jung
Byoung Ook
BO
Lee
Yo Seb
YS
Han
Seok Ho
SH
Dong
Hyo Jong
HJ
Kim
Young-Woon
YW
Chang
Joung Il
JI
Lee
Rin
R
Chang
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy