Fulminant autoimmune hepatitis in a girl with 22q13 deletion syndrome: a previously unreported association.
We report a 7-year-old girl with 22q13 deletion syndrome, 46,XX,Ish del(22)(q13.3)(ARSA-; D22S1726), who developed a fulminant autoimmune hepatitis requiring orthotopic liver transplantation. Recently, it has been suggested that the Shank3 gene product, whose deficiency is responsible for the features observed in this syndrome, could play a role in immunological response. Despite an increased incidence of respiratory infections, autoimmune diseases have thus far not been reported in patients with this syndrome. This is the first case of fulminant autoimmune hepatitis associated with the 22q13 deletion syndrome. The possible relationships between immune system dysfunctions peculiar of this syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis are discussed.
Tufano
Maria
M
Pediatric Liver Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy.
Della Corte
Claudia
C
Cirillo
Francesco
F
Spagnuolo
Maria Immacolata
MI
Candusso
Manila
M
Melis
Daniela
D
Torre
Giuliano
G
Iorio
Raffaele
R
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D002648:Child; D002872:Chromosome Deletion; D002892:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 / Q000235:genetics*; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007621:Karyotyping; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000601:surgery; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010641:Phenotype