Journal of Diabetes Investigation (Nov 2020)

Statin‐induced autoimmune hepatitis in patients with type 1 diabetes: A report of two cases and literature review

  • Eiji Kawasaki,
  • Takahiro Fukuyama,
  • Erisa Kuriyama,
  • Aira Uchida,
  • Yoko Sagara,
  • Hidekazu Tamai,
  • Yuko Nakano,
  • Masayuki Tojikubo,
  • Nobuhiko Koga

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/jdi.13271
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 6
pp. 1673 – 1676

Abstract

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Abstract Statins are widely used medications for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, as well as prevention of cardiovascular disease. We report two patients with type 1 diabetes who developed autoimmune hepatitis after the administration of statin. The first patient developed the marked elevation of liver enzymes 6 months into atorvastatin therapy. The second patient developed liver dysfunction 8 months after the initiation of rosuvastatin therapy. Liver biopsies in both patients showed either portal, interface and lobular hepatitis or a piece‐meal necrosis with lymphocytes and plasma cell infiltration that were compatible with autoimmune hepatitis. Then, both patients were started on prednisolone, to which they responded well. Liver biopsy is to be considered for type 1 diabetes patients if there is no improvement of liver dysfunction after discontinuation of statins.

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