Post‐infantile giant cell hepatitis

Abstract

ABSTRACT— Six patients with post‐infantile giant cell hepatitis (PIGCH) are reported. The age of the patients ranged from 12 to 74 years. One patient had acute giant cell hepatitis and complete restitution was established by biopsy. In five patients, giant cell formation was seen in chronic aggressive hepatitis with cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was demonstrated 5–11 months after the onset of hepatitis. All of these cases later became inactive, but in only one was evidence of inactivity obtained by liver biopsy. Giant cell hepatitis occurred in 0.25% of patients with post‐infantile hepatitis; however, all but one of the PIGCH‐cases were seen between 1972 and 1974. Hepatitis B markers were negative in all tested cases. The possibility of a special type of infection is discussed.

Syncytial giant cell hepatitis in human immunodeficiency virus–infected patients with chronic hepatitis C: 2 cases and review of the literature

“…The low overall rate of SGCH in our HIV population (0.6%) was similar to the 0.8% rate reported among the adult non-HIV population [17]. Both subjects with SGCH had evidence of replicative HCV coinfection.…”

“…Postinfantile SGCH is not a specific disease entity with a special clinical course or prognosis, and its evolution seems to be highly variable [3][4][5][6][7]17]. In HIV-infected patients, as in HIV-seronegative individuals, the finding of this morphological pattern should lead to the search of an etiological diagnosis.…”

A Case of Adult Autoimmune Hepatitis with Histological Features of Giant Cell Hepatitis

“…It is also reported to be the result of cell fusion because mitotic figures have never been observed (16). Fusion of mononuclear hepatocytes and nuclear proliferation without cell division are the two prevailing pathogenic hypotheses (16).…”

Diagnosis and Treatment Strategy for Syncytial Giant Cell Hepatitis

“…Syncytial giant cell hepatitis (GCH) is frequently found in neonates, but very rarely in adults, with an estimated incidence ranging from about 0.1% to 0.25% of all liver diseases in adults (1,2). GCH in adults is a rare disorder characterized by severe icteric hepatitis, histologically defined by diffuse syncytial multinucleated hepatocytes, and often has a fulminant course (3,4).…”

“…Furthermore, Thaler et al demonstrated the presence of hypergamma-globulinemia and the favorable response to immunosuppressive therapy in the treated patients, thus suggesting an underlying autoimmune disease (1). The clinical course of autoimmune hepatitis with GCH varies from the normalization of the hepatic histology to a progression to cirrhosis and liver failure.…”