Keimyung Med J.  2016 Jun;35(1):44-49. 10.0000/kmj.2016.35.1.44.

Autoimmune Hepatitis-systemic Lupus Erythematosus Overlap Syndrome Diagnosed after Tapering Immunosuppressive Therapy

• Lee BH
• Park SA
• Kim JK
• Cheon DY
• Kang SH
• Choi NY
• Park JW
• Kwon MJ
• Seo YI
• Kim SE

• KMID: 2307747
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kmj.2016.35.1.44

Abstract

The differential diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is difficult due to the resemblance of these two disorders. However, the accurate diagnosis is important for prognosis and treatment that are different from each other. We report a case of AIH-SLE overlap syndrome which tapering of prednisone and azathioprine therapy deteriorated the condition of a patient due to flare up of SLE. The patient was a 28-year-old woman diagnosed as AIH. After administrations of prednisone and azathioprine, her condition was improved. During dose reduction, she was admitted to our hospital as fever and dyspnea. She diagnosed as lupus nephritis. After high dose treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine, she recovered. Once the diagnosis of autoimmune disease such as SLE or AIH has been made, clinicians should also be fully aware of concomitant other autoimmune disease.

Keyword

Autoimmune hepatitis; Overlap syndrome; Systemic lupus erythematosus

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Adult
Autoimmune Diseases
Azathioprine
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Dyspnea
Female
Fever
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Humans
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic
Lupus Nephritis
Prednisone
Prognosis
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Azathioprine
Prednisone