A Miliary Tuberculosis Case without Lung Involvement Difficult to Distinguish from Autoimmune Hepatitis Exacerbation

Abstract

A 48-year-old female with a past history of systemic lupus erythematosus had developed autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) at the age of 45 years, and administration of PSL 30mg/day was initiated. However, AIH exacerbation was suspected based on elevation of hepatic and biliary tract enzymes such as ALP (1207U/L) with a fever of 38ºC after tapering off the steroids to PSL 7.5mg daily, and she was thus hospitalized. A liver biopsy was recommended, but she refused. Thus, we suspected concomitant AIH and autoimmune cholangitis (AIC). Although high-dose steroid treatment including steroid pulse therapy was administered, there was no improvement. We performed a liver biopsy on the 66th hospital day, after obtaining the patientʼs consent. Epithelioid granuloma was detected in the liver leaflet as the background of the AIH and AIC findings. In addition, acid fast bacteria were detected with auramine and Ziehl-Neelsen staining, raising the possibility of tuberculosis. Additionally, granuloma was also seen in her bone marrow, and miliary tuberculosis was suspected. Anti-tuberculous therapy with isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide was initially administered, but the regimen was changed to levofloxacin, ethambutol, and streptomycin due to the side effects of the earlier medications. Liver functions improved and the inflammatory reaction became negative. The patient was discharged on the 138th hospital day. Ultimately, no acid fast bacteria were detected with culture, PCR of her bone marrow, or liver biopsy. However, miliary tuberculosis was definitively diagnosed from the pathological findings and her clinical course. AIH was an underlying disease, and the discrimination from AIH exacerbation was difficult. Consequently, the diagnosis was miliary tuberculosis without the lung involvement and the main lesion was in the liver. It is important to take account of miliary tuberculosis in the differential diagnosis of fevers of unknown origin with elevation of hepatic and biliary tract enzymes, and to make a definitive diagnosis with a liver biopsy.