[Clinical aspects of giant cell hepatitis]

Giant-cell hepatitis in adults is a rare event resembling either chronic non-A, non-B or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. The etiology is unknown. Paramyxoviruses may be implicated. The clinical picture varies remarkably from mild chronic liver disease to subacute hepatic failure. Liver biopsy is diagnostic, showing giant cells as the common pathological finding. Due to the unknown cause of the disease, treatment is symptomatic. Steroids are applied, as in the case of autoimmune disease, with remarkable results in some patients. In fulminant cases, however, liver transplantation is the only option for cure.