Adult syncytial giant cell chronic hepatitis due to herbal remedy

Abstract

Syncytial giant cell hepatitis is an uncommon form of chronic hepatitis in adults, although it has been reported in association with viral infection (including HCV and HIV infection), drug reactions and autoimmune disorders. We here report a very unusual case of giant cell chronic hepatitis in a 26-old-woman, who had been taking a herbal remedy (ISABGOL) for chronic constipation. The presence of viral and metabolic diseases has been excluded; an autoimmune etiology was very unlikely as the autoimmunity test remained negative during the year of follow-up and the total disease score normalized (from 13 to 8) without corticosteroid treatment. The causative role of the herbal remedy was further supported by the spontaneous and dramatic clinical, biochemical and histologic improvement observed following its withdrawal, despite the absence of any treatment.