Jaundice as a misadventure of a green tea (camellia sinensis) lover : a case report

The case of a 76-year-old retired surgeon and lover of green tea (camellia sinensis) infusions who developed a clinical, sero-biochemical and histological picture of severe subacute hepatitis is reported. The clinical presentation was that of jaundice with asthenia and weight loss. Abnormal liver function tests were associated with hyper-gammaglobulinemia, and the transient presence of anti-smooth-muscle antibodies and ANCA. Liver histology showed mixed features of lobular hepatitis with central collapses, portal inflammatory cells infiltration and interface hepatitis. All other potential causes of hepatitis were excluded on the basis of clinical, biochemical and serological data. Herbal preparation withdrawal resulted in a slow and continuous improvement with a complete clinical and sero-biochemical resolution after 7 months. (Acta gastroenterol. belg., 2008, 71, 409-412).