Co-development of autoimmune hepatitis and Sjögren's syndrome triggered by the administration of herbal medicines

Clin Mol Hepatol. 2013 Sep;19(3):305-8. doi: 10.3350/cmh.2013.19.3.305. Epub 2013 Sep 30.

Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been reported in association with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Drug-induced AIH has been rarely reported. A rare case of the co-development of AIH and SS in a 53-year-old woman after the consumption of herbal medicines is described. After admission, the patient complained of dryness in her mouth, and she was subsequently diagnosed with SS, which had not been detected previously. The patient's bilirubin and aminotransferase levels initially decreased following conservative management; however, they later began to progressively increase. A diagnosis of AIH was made based on the scoring system proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. The patient was administered a combination of prednisolone and azathioprine, and the results of follow-up liver-function tests were found to be within the normal range. This is an unusual case of AIH and SS triggered simultaneously by the administration of herbal medicines.

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis; Herbal medicine; Sjögren's syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alanine Transaminase / blood
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases / blood
  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Bilirubin / blood
  • Female
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / complications
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / diagnosis*
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / drug therapy
  • Herbal Medicine*
  • Humans
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Function Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / therapeutic use
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / complications
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Sjogren's Syndrome / drug therapy

Substances

  • Prednisolone
  • Aspartate Aminotransferases
  • Alanine Transaminase
  • Azathioprine
  • Bilirubin