[Liver involvement in systemic diseases]

Liver involvement is common in connective tissue disorders and usually asymptomatic. However, it may be symptomatic and cases of fulminant hepatitis have been reported. A diagnosis of specific hepatic involvement needs to rule out drug toxicity, viral hepatitis, or auto-immune liver disease. The large panel of auto-antibodies that is now available to the clinician is helpful to differentiate auto-immune hepatitis and specific liver involvement associated with connective tissue disease. In the latter, the outcome is generally favourable with immunosuppressive treatment.