title: Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases-related hepatic injury.
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.
authors.affiliation: Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fu-Kui
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ning
authors.initials: XN
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Tai-Ling
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ji-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Bao-En
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D003240:Connective Tissue Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011241:Prednisone