Open AccessThe use of infliximab in a patient with idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis
Author(s) -
Sabrina Kapoor,
Neil Snowden
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.06.2008.0319
Subject(s) - medicine , infliximab , hepatitis , liver biopsy , gastroenterology , dermatology , methotrexate , liver function tests , malignancy , biopsy , disease
We report a therapeutic response to infliximab in a patient with idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis resistant to treatment with methotrexate and corticosteroids. A 41-year-old woman presented with a 12-month history of fever, night sweat, gross hepatomegaly and 13 kg weight loss. Infection and malignancy were carefully excluded and a liver biopsy showed changes consistent with idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis. The patient was treated with high dose steroids and methotrexate, but her clinical symptoms and biochemical and radiological signs did not settle. Introduction of infliximab led to rapid and sustained resolution of symptoms, hepatomegaly and liver function tests (LFTs) after 1 year of follow-up. To our knowledge this is the first successful use of infliximab in idiopathic granulomatous hepatitis.