Acute hepatitis in adult Still’s disease during corticosteroid treatment successfully treated with anakinra

• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-007-0791-y
• Publication Date: 2007-12-19T12:22:07Z
• Authors: Eleni Mylona; Styliani Golfinop...; Michael Samarkos; Panagiotis Fanour...; Vasilios Papadakos; Athanasios Skoutelis
• Keywords: Adult-onset Still's disease; Fulminant; Fulminant hepatic failure

Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a well-recognized clinical disorder characterized by involvement of various organs, including liver. However, acute hepatitis or hepatic failure is extremely rare, and most of the reported cases occurred during treatment with hepatotoxic drugs. Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Experimental and clinical data support a central role for IL-1Ra in fulminant hepatic failure. We report the case of a patient with AOSD complicated with acute hepatitis during treatment with corticosteroids, which was dramatically improved with anakinra.