Tubulointerstitial nephritis and primary biliary cirrhosis with a T cell-dominant profile of infiltrating cells and granulomas in both organs

Intern Med. 2013;52(4):467-71. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.52.9003. Epub 2013 Feb 15.

Abstract

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital for an evaluation of progressive renal insufficiency and elevated liver enzymes. A renal biopsy revealed chronic granulomatous interstitial nephritis. Her laboratory findings indicated primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), which was confirmed with a liver biopsy. CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells with granuloma formation were the predominant cells infiltrating into the interstitium of the kidneys and liver. The etiology of tubulointerstitial nephritis in the present patient was not clear; however, it might have shared the same pathogenesis as PBC due to the relatively close onset, the similar profiles of infiltrating cells and the presence of granulomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Granuloma / complications*
  • Humans
  • Kidney Diseases / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / immunology*
  • Liver Diseases / complications*
  • Middle Aged
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / complications*
  • Nephritis, Interstitial / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes*