Glycogen Hepatopathy: A Rare and Underrecognized Cause of Recurrent Transaminitis in Patients with Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Glycogen hepatopathy (GH), characterized by reversible transaminitis and hepatomegaly, results from excessive accumulation of glycogen in hepatocytes. GH has been well described in the literature as a rare cause of transaminitis in children and young patients with uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus and has rarely been reported in type 2 diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia are believed to be a metabolic substrate for hepatic glycogen accumulation and in order to cause glycogen hepatotoxicity. We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with poorly controlled insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes who was hospitalized twice within 1 month with diabetic ketoacidosis/hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state and reversible transaminitis. Interestingly, she had normal liver function tests performed at the time of admission and transaminitis was noted 1 day later, after she was treated with high doses of intravenous insulin therapy. Subsequently, liver enzymes recovered to normal levels with optimization of glucose control.