Overlap Syndrome: Autoimmune Hepatitis With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Overlap Syndrome : Autoimmune Hepatitis with
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

S Arulprakash*, Anand D Sasi*, Murali R Bala**, T Pugazhendhi***, S Jeevan Kumar***
Abstract
Overlap syndrome is used to describe variant forms of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) which present with
characteristics of AIH and primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Patients with
overlap syndromes present with both hepatitic and cholestatic serum liver tests and have histological features
of AIH and PBC or PSC. AIH-PBC is the most common form of overlap syndrome, affecting almost 10% of
adults with AIH or PBC. Transitions from PBC to AIH-PBC overlap syndrome have also been reported. Overlap
syndromes show a progressive course without treatment, and therapy is empiric. Ursodeoxycholic acid is usually
combined with immunosuppressive therapy but end-stage disease requires liver transplantation. We report a
case of AIH/PBC overlap with relevant discussion of literature.
Introduction
in the intervening period. She denied any intake of hepatotoxic

drugs. Clinically she was deeply icteric with pedal edema and
had abdomen distension with free fluid. Spleen was palpable 5
cm below left costal margin. She was afebrile with scratch marks
over trunk and extremities. Clinical diagnosis of chronic liver
disease with decompenstion was considered and evaluated for
etiology.
utoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are the three major
immune disorders of the liver. The coexistence of primary biliary
cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) occurring
simultaneously has been called overlap syndrome. Overlap
syndromes should always be considered once an autoimmune
liver disease has been diagnosed.1 The diagnostic criteria for this
variant form of PBC have not been standardized. A hepatitic
biochemical profile typically coexists with cholestatic laboratory
changes.2 Although autoantibodies are detected in up to 65% of
patients with chronic hepatitis C, its inappropriate to use the
term overlap syndrome for coexistence of AIH and other chronic
liver diseases.
Investigations: Hemoglobin 9.7 g/dL; prothrombin time

16/12s, bilirubin 12.8 mg/dL (direct 9.6), serum AST 312 IU/L,
ALT 260 IU/L, alkaline phosphatase 389 IU/L, serum proteins 6.2
g/dL (albumin 2.8); blood urea 33 mg/dL, serum creatinine 0.7
mg/dL. Serum HIV, HBsAg, IgM anti-HAV and HCV antibody
were negative. Ultrasonography showed nodular shrunken
liver with spleenomegaly and ascites. Ascitic fluid analysis was
low protein high SAAG, suggesting portal hypertension. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) 1:100 dilution, Anti LKM anti body
(1:100) were positive. Anti- smooth muscle antibody (SMA) was
negative. Anti-mitochondrial (M2 antigen) antibody (AMA)
was positive. She had Grade II esophageal varices and mild
portal hypertensive gastropathy on upper GI endoscopy. Liver
biopsy was done which revealed lymphocytic infiltrates, bile
duct loss with proliferation and hepatocytes showed feathery
degeneration, intrahepatic cholestasis and minimal regeneration.
Biopsy was suggestive of auto immune hepatitis with florid
bile duct lesion (Fig. 1) AIH-PBC overlap syndrome was
diagnosed using the criteria mentioned below and was started
on oral ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA; 15 mg/Kg/day). Hepatic
decompensation was managed appropriately. There was some
improvement in liver biochemistry after UDCA (bilirubin 7.7
mg/dL (direct 3.8), serum AST 118 IU/L, ALT 90 IU/L, alkaline
phosphatase 210 IU/L). We restrained from starting steroids as
she had decompensated liver disease. At the last follow-up, the
patient reported an improved general condition, and fatigue
and pruritus disappeared.
Case Report
A 44-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with
abdomen distension, jaundice, edema legs of 2 months duration.
She also had 2 episodes of hematemesis and was passing pale
stools 2 weeks prior to admission. There was a history of jaundice
1year back, details not available with the patient. She reported
fatigue and slight pruritus, but was otherwise in good health
Discussion
PBC and AIH are the most frequent autoimmune liver
disease with a female preponderance. Clinical presentation
depends on predominant component of disease. Patients with
overlap syndromes usually present with nonspecific symptoms,
including fatigue, arthralgia, myalgia, jaundice and pale stools.
Serum liver tests typically show a hepatitic pattern in AIH and
a cholestatic pattern with marked elevation of AP and -GT, but
mild elevation of serum transaminases in PBC. While serum IgG
is the predominant immunoglobulin elevated in AIH, serum IgM
is elevated in most patients with PBC. Patients presenting with
Fig. 1 : Liver biopsy showing lymphocytic infiltrates, bile duct loss

with proliferation and hepatocytes showed feathery degeneration,
intrahepatic cholestasis and minimal regeneration. Features
suggestive of auto immune hepatitis with florid bile duct lesion.
*
Resident, Medical Gastroenterology, **Assistant Professor Medical
Gastroenterology, ***Professor Medical Gastroenterology, Department
of Digestive Health and Diseases, (Government Peripheral Hospital),
Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, Chennai 600 102.
Received: 13.04.2009; Accepted: 04.06.2009
452
JAPI july 2010 VOL. 58
alternative to corticosteroids for long-term immunosuppressive

therapy. Budesonide and cyclosporine A has also been used
in patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome with success.7
Liver transplantation is regarded as the treatment of choice for
end-stage disease. Recent studies have shown AIH-PBC overlap
syndrome might have worse clinical outcomes compared to
patients with PBC alone.7
clinical, biochemical, serological and histological features of both

these diseases have been reported and described as overlap
syndrome. Although there is no uniformly accepted criteria
for diagnosis,3 the diagnostic criteria defined by Chazouillres
et al. are based on the presence of at least two of the following
three types of features characteristic of each disease: biochemical
(ALP levels at least twofold / GGT > at least five fold and ALT
levels at least fivefold the upper normal PBC and AIH values,
respectively); immunologic (presence of AMA in the case of BPC,
and serum IgG levels at least twofold the upper normal values or
the presence of ASMA in that of AIH); and histologic (florid bile
duct lesions in the case of PBC and interface hepatitis in that of
AIH). In the present case, the patient satisfied the aforementioned
diagnostic criteria.4 Autoantibodies are generally believed as a
hallmark for the diagnosis of AIH. Serum ANA in patients with
PBC are not a marker of AIH-PBC overlap syndrome, but often
found in PBC patients without further signs of AIH. ANA with
a specific immunofluorescence pattern of multiple nuclear dots
directed against Sp100 or Coilin p80 are rather specific although
less sensitive for PBC . Patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome
show a predominant HLA type B8, DR3, or DR4 similar to AIH
and a good response to corticosteroid treatment.5 The presence
of soluble liver antigen (SLA) autoantibodies was found to be
a marker of AIH-PBC overlap syndrome with a good response
to immunosuppressive therapy. The time interval between the
diagnosis of PBC and the diagnosis of AIH varied from 6 months
to 13 years.
Conclusion
AIH-PBC overlap syndrome is the commonest of all
overlap syndromes and has to be considered while diagnosing
autoimmune hepatitis. The diagnostic criteria for this variant
form of PBC have not been standardized, nor has its frequency
and appropriate treatment strategy been established. As of now
treatment of this condition is with UDCA, immunosuppressants
and liver transplantation.
References
Recommendations for the treatment of PBCAIH overlap

syndrome have not yet been standardized owing to the low
prevalence of this autoimmune liver disease. Because no
randomized controlled therapeutic trials have been carried
out so far, recommendations for treating PBC AIH overlap
syndrome are usually based on the methods used to treat the
two main autoimmune liver diseases separately. Its appropriate
to start treatment with UDCA (13-15 mg/kg daily). However, if
this therapy does not induce an adequate biochemical response
in an appropriate time span (e.g. 3 months)6 or in patients with
predominantly hepatitic serum liver tests, a corticosteroid
should be added. Prednisone has been used at an initial
dose of 0.5 mg/kg daily and should be progressively tapered
once ALT levels show a response. The role of other immunosuppressants, (azathioprine) in the long-term management of
patients with AIH-PBC overlap syndrome is unclear, but its an
JAPI july 2010 VOL. 58
1.
Czaja AJ. The variant forms of autoimmune hepatitis. Ann Intern

Med 1996;125:588-598.
2.
Beuers U. Hepatic overlap syndromes. J Hepatol 2005;42 Suppl:

S93-S99.
3.
Duclos-Vallee JC, Hadengue A, Ganne-Carrie N, Robin E, Degott

C, Erlinger S. Primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis
overlap syndrome. Corticoresistance and effective treatment by
cyclosporine A. Dig Dis Sci 1995;40:1069-1073.
4.
Chazouilleres O, Wendum D, Serfaty L, Montembault S, Rosmorduc

O, Poupon R. Primary biliary cirrhosis autoimmune hepatitis
overlap syndrome: clinical features and response to therapy.
Hepatology 1998;28:296-301.
5.
Gerken G, Dienes HP. Characterization of the overlap syndrome of

primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis: evidence
for it being a hepatitic form of PBC in genetically susceptible
individuals. Hepatology 1999;29:1078-1084.
6.
Heathcote EJ. Overlap syndromes. In: Bircher JBJ, McIntyre N,

Rizzeto M, Rods J, eds. Oxford Textbook of Clinical Hepatology
,Vol. 2. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1999;113540.
7.
Overlap syndromes among autoimmune liver diseases. Pietro

Invernizzi, MD; Ian R Mackay, MD, World J Gastroenterol
2008;14:3368-3373.
453

Overlap Syndrome: Autoimmune Hepatitis With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Overlap Syndrome: Autoimmune Hepatitis With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Overlap Syndrome: Autoimmune Hepatitis With Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Overlap Syndrome : Autoimmune Hepatitis with

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

in the intervening period. She denied any intake of hepatotoxic

utoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC)

Investigations: Hemoglobin 9.7 g/dL; prothrombin time

Fig. 1 : Liver biopsy showing lymphocytic infiltrates, bile duct loss

JAPI july 2010 VOL. 58

alternative to corticosteroids for long-term immunosuppressive

clinical, biochemical, serological and histological features of both

Recommendations for the treatment of PBCAIH overlap

JAPI july 2010 VOL. 58

Czaja AJ. The variant forms of autoimmune hepatitis. Ann Intern

Beuers U. Hepatic overlap syndromes. J Hepatol 2005;42 Suppl:

Duclos-Vallee JC, Hadengue A, Ganne-Carrie N, Robin E, Degott

Chazouilleres O, Wendum D, Serfaty L, Montembault S, Rosmorduc

Gerken G, Dienes HP. Characterization of the overlap syndrome of

Heathcote EJ. Overlap syndromes. In: Bircher JBJ, McIntyre N,

Overlap syndromes among autoimmune liver diseases. Pietro

You might also like