HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis and mixed connective tissue disease syndrome. An unusual association observed in two patients

Two patients are described who suffered from both HBsAg-negative chronic active hepatitis and mixed connective tissue disease syndrome. The diagnosis of liver disease was made prior to the diagnosis of collagenosis in one of the patients, whereas the opposite was the case in the other. In spite of the fact that symptoms and laboratory data suggesting both diagnoses were present from the moment of presentation, there was a considerable delay in establishing the second diagnosis in both patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report on an association between chronic active hepatitis and mixed connective tissue disease syndrome. It illustrates the difficulties when diagnosing overlap conditions.