Acute intrahepatic cholestasis accompanied with Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection

Abstract

We report a case of Chlamydophila (C.) pneumoniae infection presenting with fever and rapid intrahepatic cholestasis. A 63-year-old man had a week-long history of intermittent high fever and rapidly progressive jaundice with atypical erythema. The results of liver function tests were recorded. The results of all serological tests were negative; the IgM, IgG, and IgA titers for C. pneumoniae had increased, which indicates a C. pneumoniae infection. The patient's fever and liver dysfunction improved upon administration of minocycline. Light microscopic findings showed the presence of enlarged liver cells with clear cytoplasm, a few mitotic figures, multinucleated cells, and bile cholestasis. The electron microscopic appearance of liver biopsy showed that bile canaliculi exhibited intrahepatic forms of cholestasis. From the results of light and electron microscopy, we inferred atypical intrahepatic cholestasis, probably resulting from the C. pneumoniae infection.