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Autoimmune cholangitis in a patient with thymoma
Author(s) -
KIM JANGHA,
KIM BYUNGHO,
KIM YOUNWHA,
PARK JOOCHEOL,
JUNG YONG HEE,
LEE BYOUNG OOK,
HAN YO SEB,
DONG SEOK HO,
KIM HYO JONG,
CHANG YOUNGWOON,
LEE JOUNG IL,
CHANG RIN
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2002.03239.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thymoma , anti nuclear antibody , autoimmune hepatitis , cholestasis , jaundice , pathology , serology , gastroenterology , liver function tests , alkaline phosphatase , hepatitis , autoantibody , antibody , immunology , biochemistry , chemistry , enzyme
Autoimmune cholangitis is characterized biochemically by chronic cholestasis and histopathologically by chronic non‐suppurative destructive cholangitis. It is associated with positive antinuclear antibody test and negative antimitochondrial antibody test results. Recently, we experienced a case of a 35‐year‐old woman with autoimmune cholangitis associated with thymoma who presented with pruritis, jaundice, chronic fatigue and anterior chest discomfort. Her laboratory examinations revealed marked increases in levels of serum alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase. In serological tests, antinuclear antibody was found, but antimitochondrial antibody was not. Liver biopsy findings were compatible with chronic non‐suppurative destructive cholangitis. On computed tomography (CT) of the chest, a large anterior mediastinal mass was found. The mass was totally resected and the patient was treated with ursodeoxy cholic acid. Thereafter, her clinical symptoms improved and liver functions completely returned to the normal range. We describe here an uncommon association of autoimmune cholangitis with thymoma, which has not been reported previously in the English‐written literature.