An analysis of epidemiology and clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis in 62 patients in Guangdong

Objective To investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). Methods Hospitalization data of 62 consenting patients with autoimmune hepatitis admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Ji'nan University from November 2002 to March 2014 were collected. Clinical characteristics, epidemiology, serum IgG or γ-globulin levels, liver function indices, and liver fibrosis indices in these patients were analyzed. Results ①62 patients participated in this research, including 9 males and 53 females. The male-female ratio of AIH patients was 1:5.89. The patients, age ranged from 15 to 79 years (median age 56 years), and middle aged patients accounted for 40.3% (25 patients). Fatigue (61.3%), hepatomegaly (54.8%) and loss of appetite (53.2%) were the most common clinical symptoms. Type ⅠAIH accounted for 77.42%, type Ⅱfor 3.23%, type Ⅲfor 3.23% and type Ⅳfor 16.13%. ②Different types of AIH patients showed no statistically significant difference in the gender, age, clinical manifestations and incidence of complications, serum IgG or γ-globulin levels and liver function. ③Due to the limited size of type Ⅱ, type Ⅲand type ⅣAIH patients, only type ⅠAIH patients were enrolled in a further analysis. In type ⅠAIH patients, the incidences of abdominal distension, palmar erythema, spider nevi, edema of lower extremities, upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage and spontaneous peritonitis were higher in males. Females had a higher concentration of gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid and laminin. Type ⅠAIH patients in all age groups showed no statistical ly significant difference in clinical manifestations and incidence of complications, serum IgG or γ-globulin levels and liver function. Conclusions AIH predominantly affects middle-aged women. Fatigue, hepatomegaly and reduction of appetite are the most common clinical symptoms. Type Ⅰis the most common type among the three types. Females has a higher concentration of GGT and ALP and a lower concentration of hyaluronic acid and laminin. DOI: 10.11855/j.issn.0577-7402.2016.08.13