Back to Search
Start Over
Serologic Markers Do Not Predict Histologic Severity or Response to Treatment in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Source :
- Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 7:98-103
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2009.
-
Abstract
- Background & Aims Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is characterized by the presence of circulating autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia, necroinflammatory histology, and a response to immunosuppressive drugs. The goal of this retrospective study was to determine whether the presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) or anti–smooth muscle antibodies (ASMAs) in patients with AIH correlated with clinical presentation, histologic findings, or response to immunosuppressive therapy. Methods Fifty-two patients diagnosed with AIH, on the basis of the revised scoring system of International Autoimmune Hepatitis group, were reviewed. Data on age, gender, aminotransferase levels, autoantibody titers, treatment regimens, and response to treatment were recorded. Seropositivity was defined as ANA >1:40 or ASMA >1:40. Percutaneous liver biopsies obtained at the initial presentation were reviewed. Results Forty-two patients with AIH (81%) were seropositive, and 10 (19%) were seronegative. Both groups were similar with respect to demographics, treatment regimens, and response to therapy. Histologic parameters were similar among the 2 groups, including portal and lobular inflammation, piecemeal necrosis, and centrilobular necrosis. There were no significant differences in aminotransferase levels at diagnosis or after treatment. Conclusions The prevalence of ANAs or ASMAs did not correlate with the clinical or histologic severity of AIH at diagnosis. Furthermore, there was no correlation between antibody status and response to immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, patients who meet the diagnosis of AIH on the basis of the revised scoring system of International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group should be given immunosuppressive therapy, regardless of antibody status.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Male
Piecemeal necrosis
medicine.medical_specialty
Anti-nuclear antibody
Statistics as Topic
Autoimmune hepatitis
Gastroenterology
Necrosis
Liver Function Tests
immune system diseases
Internal medicine
Animals
Humans
Medicine
Transaminases
Aged
Autoantibodies
Retrospective Studies
Hepatitis
Hepatology
biology
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
Centrilobular necrosis
Autoantibody
Middle Aged
medicine.disease
Hepatitis, Autoimmune
Treatment Outcome
Liver
Immunology
biology.protein
Anti-smooth muscle antibody
Female
business
Liver function tests
Immunosuppressive Agents
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15423565
- Volume :
- 7
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....44b7c543d1af44997d278820c4cdd8fd