Diagnosis and Therapy of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Title: Diagnosis and Therapy of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Volume: 9 Issue: 7

Author(s): Alessandro Granito, Paolo Muratori, Silvia Ferri, Georgios Pappas, Chiara Quarneti, Marco Lenzi, Francesco B. Bianchi and Luigi Muratori

Affiliation:

Keywords: Autoimmune hepatitis, autoantibodies, autoimmune liver disease, immunosuppressive treatment

Abstract: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic progressive hepatitis, characterized by interface hepatitis with lymphoplasmacellular infiltrates on liver biopsy, high serum globulin level and circulating autoantibodies. It is classified into two types, according to autoantibody profile: type 1 is characterized by anti-nuclear (ANA) and/or anti-smooth muscle (SMA) antibodies; type 2 by anti-liver kidney microsomal type 1 (anti-LKM-1) antibodies. AIH affects all ages, may be asymptomatic, frequently has an acute onset, and can present as fulminant hepatitis. The diagnosis of AIH is based on a scoring system codified by an international consensus. Corticosteroids alone or in conjunction with azathioprine is the treatment of choice in patients with AIH and results in remission induction in over 80% of patients. Alternative proposed strategies in patients who have failed to achieve remission on standard therapy or patients with drug toxicity include the use of cyclosporine, tacrolimus, budesonide or mycophenolate mofetil. Liver transplantation is the treatment of choice in managing decompensated disease, however AIH can recur or develop de novo after liver transplantation.

Cite this article as:

Granito Alessandro, Muratori Paolo, Ferri Silvia, Pappas Georgios, Quarneti Chiara, Lenzi Marco, Bianchi B. Francesco and Muratori Luigi, Diagnosis and Therapy of Autoimmune Hepatitis, Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2009; 9 (7) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138955709788452676