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Letter
Transient development of anti-mitochondrial antibodies accompanies autoimmune hepatitis–sclerosing cholangitis overlap
  1. M Bhat1,
  2. M Guindi2,
  3. E J Heathcote1,
  4. G M Hirschfield1
  1. 1
    Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  2. 2
    University Health Network and Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
  1. Dr G M Hirschfield, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst Street, 6B Fell Pavilion, Toronto, ON, Canada M5T 2S8; gideon.hirschfield{at}uhn.on.ca

https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.2008.163220

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    The biological basis of autoimmune liver diseases remains unclear, despite many suggestions.1–3 Not infrequently patients present in ways that demonstrate the artificial boundaries created by clinicians are simply that: classifications inadequately addressing underlying aetiopathogenesis.4

    We describe a case that contributes further to our biological understanding. A 33-year-old man was initially diagnosed with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) in 2003 at the time of an asymptomatic and anicteric cholestatic hepatitis: bilirubin 5 μmol/l (normal, <22), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 221 U/l (normal, <40), aspartate transaminase (AST) 99 U/l (normal, <35), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) 487 U/l (normal, <110), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) 986 U/l (normal, <45). No other risk factors for liver disease were present either on history, examination or investigation, and pertinently the only immunological abnormality …

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests: None.

    • Patient consent: Obtained.