A Case Report of Primary Biliary Cholangitis Related to Hepatitis in a 7-Year-Old Girl from Iran

Abstract

Primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), formerly known as primary biliary cirrhosis, is a liver disease. This is a chronic autoimmune disease, which can worsen over time and recur periodically. If left untreated, biliary cirrhosis may lead to liver failure. Considering that PBC is a rare disease in all age groups, especially in children, the purpose of this report was to describe a girl with hepatitis A  virus (HAV) who was then diagnosed with PBC. This child is the first case reported in Iran. The patient is a 7-year-old girl with a pale complexion and eyes with a yellowish cross who was referred to the doctor. Considering that this patient had hepatitis, a blood test was requested to check the level of cholesterol and liver enzymes. The absence of cholestatic liver enzymes was observed in tests. Then, an anti-mitochondrial (AMA) test was requested for the patient, the result of which was negative. Finally, with imaging and biopsy, the diagnosis of PBC was confirmed for the patient. After the definite diagnosis of the disease, the child was treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The child in question is suffering from two medical and immunological diseases, HAV and PBC. Since this child was first infected with HAV, it is possible that the cause of PBC was HAV.