[A case of idiopathic postinfantile giant cell hepatitis treated with a calcineurin inhibitor].

INTRODUCTION

Postinfantile giant cell hepatitis is a rare entity in adult hepatopathy caused by various etiologies that can be summarized by their characteristic giant cells in histopathologic examination. Frequently, association with autoimmune, infectious and hepatotoxic events is described. Therefore, therapy consists in treatment of underlying diseases and immunosuppression.

HISTORY

We saw an 76-year-old patient due to histologically proven Postinfantile giant cell hepatitis. Despite administering budesonid as an initial attempt of treatment, no improvement in hepatitis was achieved. Hence, the patient was forwarded to us.

FINDINGS

Neither regarding the patient's history nor in laboratory and serological tests, nor in histopathological analysis of liver biopsies an underlying cause of giant cell hepatitis was identified.

THERAPY AND COURSE

Despite immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids alone, cyclophosphamide and a monoclonal anti-CD20-antibody, giant cell hepatitis was not controlled. Hence, we started treatment with the calcineurin inhibitor Tacrolimus combined with low-dose prednisolone and thus were able to lower patient's liver values and stabilize hepatitis.

CONCLUSION

The good effectiveness of tacrolimus in our patient underlines the important role of calcineurin inhibitors in treating Postinfantile giant cell hepatitis, although rarely reported to date.