A Possible Case of Hepatitis due to Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

Acute Liver Injury and Bilateral Pulmonary Artery Thrombosis Due to Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

A 46-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of a marked increase in his eosinophil count (22,870/μL) and elevated liver enzyme levels. Computed tomography (CT) showed thrombi measuring approximately 8 cm in both femoral veins. A liver biopsy revealed eosinophilic infiltration, hepatocyte necrosis, fibrosis, and multiple thrombi. We suspected acute liver injury and deep vein thrombosis associated with hypereosinophilic syndrome and initiated steroids and heparin treatment. Four days after starting treatment, the patient experienced sudden chest pain and cardiopulmonary arrest. CT revealed bilateral pulmonary artery thrombosis, and despite administration of a tissue plasminogen activator, the patient died.

Autoimmune hepatitis presenting with peripheral eosinophilia: Case report and literature review

Acute hepatitis presenting with blood eosinophilia are scarcely reported. Different clinical courses of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have been associated with acute hepatitis with eosinophilia, however it is still unclear if the latter is a common manifestation of different autoimmune diseases, part of a similar spectrum of eosinophil-associated liver injury or even a trigger to AIH. We report a case of a 32 years old woman who presented with subacute hepatitis, peripheral eosinophilia, hypergammaglobulinemia and liver biopsy suggestive of AIH. The role of eosinophils in autoimmune liver diseases deserves further studies in order to clarify its physiopathology aspects.

Acute Liver Failure Due to Hypereosinophilic Syndrome Accompanied by Duodenal Perforation

A 78-year-old woman presenting with severe acute liver failure was admitted to our hospital. On screening for the etiology of acute liver failure, it was diagnosed as being due to idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (eosinophil count reported as 4766/μL; 33.8% of the white blood cells). Her medical history included marked eosinophilia, as observed six months prior to this admission. Corticosteroid therapy was initiated. During the clinical course, duodenal perforation occurred but was managed promptly by appropriate surgery. A liver biopsy, following the initiation of corticosteroid therapy, revealed degenerating hepatic cells with mild eosinophilic infiltration. With corticosteroid therapy, the liver function improved.

Atypical presentation of autoimmune hepatitis-primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome associated with hypereosinophilia: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome is a form of autoimmune hepatitis with cholestatic features and is characterized by negative anti-mitochondrial antibody and cholangiographic changes on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Peripheral blood hypereosinophilia in conjunction with autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome has not been reported yet. Here we present a case of autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome with hypereosinophilia.

Case presentation

A 33-year-old Iranian man with the fatigue, jaundice, elevated liver enzymes and alkaline phosphatase, and hypereosinophilia was referred to our hospital. Viral and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded, and secondary workups for hypereosinophilia were all negative. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed beaded appearance of intra- and extrahepatic biliary tree, and liver biopsy revealed interface hepatitis. Therefore, the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome was made, and prednisolone, azathioprine, and ursodeoxycholic acid was initiated. His jaundice and peripheral blood eosinophilia resolved after 2 weeks, and he became completely asymptomatic.

Conclusion

Eosinophils might contribute to the clinical presentation and disease complications.

Inflammatory Pseudo-tumor of the Liver Accompanied by Eosinophilia

A 28-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for liver dysfunction and neck pain. Blood tests revealed elevated liver enzymes and eosinophilia. Ultrasonography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion near the hepatic hilus. The tumor was considered to be an inflammatory pseudo-tumor or malignancy. A liver-mass biopsy was performed and led to a diagnosis of inflammatory pseudo-tumor. In the present case, a markedly elevated eosinophil count was a characteristic clinical feature, and the patient underwent steroid therapy. Treatment resulted in a reduced eosinophil count, improved neck symptoms, and disappearance of the inflammatory pseudo-tumor.

Gastrointestinal and Hepatic Involvement in Hypereosinophilic Syndrome

The objective of this investigation was to study the gastrointestinal and hepatic involvement in hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES). Gastrointestinal or hepatic involvement is estimated to affect up to one-third of patients with HES, although most of the clinical evidence has been derived from case reports. In literature, HES presenting with hepatitis and jaundice with subsequent development of colitis is a rare clinicopathologic entity. Given the clinical implications, physicians should include HES among differentials in these types of presentations.