Visceral leishmaniasis mimicking autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and systemic lupus erythematosus overlap

Korean J Parasitol. 2012 Jun;50(2):133-6. doi: 10.3347/kjp.2012.50.2.133. Epub 2012 May 24.

Abstract

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a life-threatening infection caused by Leishmania species. In addition to typical clinical findings as fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and cachexia, VL is associated with autoimmune phenomena. To date, VL mimicking or exacerbating various autoimmune diseases have been described, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Herein, we presented a patient with VL who had overlapping clinical features with SLE, AIH, as well as antimitochondrial antibody (AMA-M2) positive primary biliary cirrhosis.

Keywords: Leishmania; autoimmune hepatitis; primary biliary cirrhosis; systemic lupus erythematosus; visceral leishmaniasis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Bone Marrow / pathology
  • Cytological Techniques
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / complications
  • Hepatitis, Autoimmune / pathology*
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Humans
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / complications
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / diagnosis*
  • Leishmaniasis, Visceral / pathology*
  • Liver / pathology
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / pathology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / pathology*

Substances

  • Autoantibodies