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1: World J Gastroenterol. 2008 May 7;14(17):2780-2.
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Undifferentiated connective tissue diseases-related hepatic injury.

Zhang Y, Zhang FK, Wu XN, Wang TL, Jia JD, Wang BE.

Liver Research Center, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

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.

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PMID: 18461666 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]