[A case of subacute thyroiditis associated with acute hepatitis]

We report one case of subacute thyroiditis associated with acute hepatitis, which is histopathologically diagnosed. A 43-year-old woman visited our hospital with chief complaints of fever, sore throat and anterior neck pain. Thyroid gland was found to be swollen and tender. Laboratory findings gave high ESR and positive test for CRP. High values of T3, T4 and RT3U indicated that the patient had hyperthyroidism. However no autoantibodies against thyroglobulin and microsome were found. High activities of serum AIP, LAP and gamma-GTP were observed. Serum GOT and GPT activities increased moderately. AIP type 2 was dominant in zymograms. Histopathological findings of liver specimen obtained by needle biopsy showed ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes with a slight focal necrosis and hyaline bodies. In addition bile plugs were observed in some biliary tubules. These findings were consistent with those of acute hepatitis. After three months all laboratory data were found to be within normal ranges and no recurrence has been observed. Subacute hepatitis associated with liver dysfunction is considered to be relatively frequent. However very few reports have been published on the case in which histopathological evidence for acute hepatitis was presented.