Acute onset autoimmune hepatitis has become the most frequent clinical phenotype in the Bologna cohort.

A study published in Liver International examined changes in the clinical and epidemiological features of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients in Italy over the past 40 years. The study found that the median age at diagnosis increased, acute onset AIH became more common, and cirrhosis at diagnosis became less frequent. Complete response rates improved, and clinical progression during follow-up decreased. The study also noted an increase in anti-nuclear antibodies positivity and a decrease in IgG levels. The findings suggest that acute onset AIH has become the most frequent clinical phenotype in recent years. However, the study's retrospective nature and single-center focus were acknowledged as limitations. The authors emphasized the importance of long-term, detailed data from experienced liver units for clinical hepatologists. They also highlighted the need for a universal definition of acute onset and severe disease in AIH. [Extracted from the article]