Korean J Gastroenterol.
2002 Mar;39(3):233-237.
A Case of Idiopathic Adulthood Ductopenia
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jinleeprof@hanmail.net
- 2Department of Pathology, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- Idiopathic adulthood ductopenia (IAD), named about 10 years ago, is a chronic cholestatic entity of unknown origin that affects predominantly young and middle-aged adult. IAD should be considered in patients with ductopenia who manifest cholestatic liver disease of unknown cause. Ductopenia is characterized by the ratio of interlobular and septal bile ducts to the portal tract less than 0.5. We recently experienced one case in a 28-year-old woman who presented with pruritus and jaundice. Laboratory findings revealed intrahepatic cholestasis and negative results in all serological markers of viral hepatitis and circulating autoantibodies. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiography showed normal cholangiogram. Histological examination of two liver specimens showed severe canalicular cholestasis and ductopenia. IAD is very rare, and there has been no report of IAD in Korea. We report a case of idiopathic adulthood ductopenia with a brief review of literature.
