Atypical presentation of autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome associated with hypereosinophilia: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome is a form of autoimmune hepatitis with cholestatic features and is characterized by negative anti-mitochondrial antibody and cholangiographic changes on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. Peripheral blood hypereosinophilia in conjunction with autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome has not been reported yet. Here we present a case of autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome with hypereosinophilia. CASE PRESENTATION: A 33-year-old Iranian man with the fatigue, jaundice, elevated liver enzymes and alkaline phosphatase, and hypereosinophilia was referred to our hospital. Viral and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded, and secondary workups for hypereosinophilia were all negative. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography showed beaded appearance of intra- and extrahepatic biliary tree, and liver biopsy revealed interface hepatitis. Therefore, the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis–primary sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome was made, and prednisolone, azathioprine, and ursodeoxycholic acid was initiated. His jaundice and peripheral blood eosinophilia resolved after 2 weeks, and he became completely asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: Eosinophils might contribute to the clinical presentation and disease complications.