Hepatitis with fibrin-ring granulomas

Infection. 2008 Aug;36(4):381-3. doi: 10.1007/s15010-007-6365-8. Epub 2007 Oct 9.

Abstract

We describe a 66-year-old woman hospitalized with fever, fatigue and hepatopathy. In her medical history arterial hypertension (treated with propranolol and lisinopril), diabetes mellitus type 2 (no treatment before admission) and a gout arthropathy were noted wherefore a therapy with allopurinol 300 mg per day has been started 4 months before. Liver biopsy revealed fibrin-ring granulomas, compatible with allopurinol-induced hepatitis. Because of persistence of high fever after stopping allopurinol, steroids (1 mg/kg) were started. Under this treatment, she developed pancytopenia and fever. The bone marrow aspiration revealed Leishmania infantum. A second liver biopsy showed amastigotes and a disappearance of the granulomas. The history revealed a travel to Malta 2 years earlier. Despite adequate treatment with liposomal amphotericin B the patient deteriorated and finally died in septic shock.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Allopurinol / adverse effects
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Bone Marrow / parasitology
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / complications*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Female
  • Fibrin / metabolism*
  • Gout Suppressants / adverse effects
  • Granuloma / chemically induced
  • Granuloma / complications*
  • Granuloma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Leishmania infantum / isolation & purification
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / complications*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis
  • Liver / parasitology
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver / surgery

Substances

  • Gout Suppressants
  • Allopurinol
  • Fibrin