Value of liver biopsy in anorexia nervosa-related transaminitis: A case study and literature review.
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Abstract |
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Anorexia nervosa (AN) is a complex eating disorder that affects multiple organs. 60% of patients have liver injury with transaminitis. The mechanism of liver injury in AN remains unclear. We present a case of a 19-year-old female with AN was admitted to our hospital with marked transaminitis but near normal liver histology on biopsy. Her transaminitis eventually improved as she regained weight. We also conducted a literature review of similar cases to delineate the clinicopathologic spectrum of liver injury in AN patients. English published cases of adult AN patients with elevated transaminases who underwent a liver biopsy or autopsy were selected. 32 cases (including ours). All except four patients were female, with median age of 26.5 years and median body mass index 11.9 kg/m . Presentations mainly included hypoglycemic coma and weight loss. 63% of patients had severe transaminitis (AST >15x ULN). Other lab findings included elevated international normalized ratio (72%) and hypoalbuminemia (47%). Microscopically, all cases showed intact hepatic architecture. Fibrosis was reported in 12 cases and necroinflamfmation in 8, but only half of each had severe transaminitis. AN patients display a wide spectrum of liver histopathology which often does not correlate with the degree of transaminitis. In severe persistent AN-related transaminitis, liver biopsy is useful to assess the degree of liver injury and to exclude other potential etiologies. |
Year of Publication |
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2022
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Journal |
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Hepatology research : the official journal of the Japan Society of Hepatology
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Volume |
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52
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Issue |
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7
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Number of Pages |
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652-658
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ISSN Number |
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1386-6346
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URL |
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https://doi.org/10.1111/hepr.13792
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DOI |
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10.1111/hepr.13792
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Short Title |
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Hepatol Res
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