Wise Young
08-10-2005, 02:21 PM
Autoimmune hepatitis responds well to methylprednisolone.
Verslype C, George C, Buchel E, Nevens F, van Steenbergen W and Fevery J (2005). Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis at age 65 and older. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 21: 695-9. AIM: To study features in older patients with autoimmune hepatitis, as this was considered mainly a disease of young females. METHODS: Analysis of 28 patients diagnosed at age > or =65 years compared with 84 younger patients. RESULTS: The incidence was similar at all age decades. The ratio M:F was 1:3 (> or =65 years) vs. 1:2 (<65 years). Presenting symptoms were not different when compared with younger patients and consisted of general malaise and fatigue (36%), jaundice +/- other symptoms (50%), or ascites (11%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) > or = 1/80 were positive in 93%, smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) > 1/40 in 50%, anti-liver kidney microsomes (anti-LKM) proved always negative. Histology showed acute necrotizing hepatitis in 19%, severe interphase hepatitis in 15%, chronic hepatitis with plasmo-lymphocytic infiltrate in 30%, cirrhosis in 29% (with active inflammation in one-third); biopsy was refused in 11%. The elderly responded very well to low doses of methylprednisolone (< or =8 mg) and azathioprine (1 mg/kg). This schedule obviates side-effects such as infections seen with higher dosages. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune hepatitis has to be also looked for in the elderly with acute and chronic hepatitis. The steroid therapy should be individualized but kept at a low dose. Department of Medicine, Division of Liver and Pancreas Diseases, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=15771755
Verslype C, George C, Buchel E, Nevens F, van Steenbergen W and Fevery J (2005). Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis at age 65 and older. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 21: 695-9. AIM: To study features in older patients with autoimmune hepatitis, as this was considered mainly a disease of young females. METHODS: Analysis of 28 patients diagnosed at age > or =65 years compared with 84 younger patients. RESULTS: The incidence was similar at all age decades. The ratio M:F was 1:3 (> or =65 years) vs. 1:2 (<65 years). Presenting symptoms were not different when compared with younger patients and consisted of general malaise and fatigue (36%), jaundice +/- other symptoms (50%), or ascites (11%). Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) > or = 1/80 were positive in 93%, smooth muscle antibodies (SMA) > 1/40 in 50%, anti-liver kidney microsomes (anti-LKM) proved always negative. Histology showed acute necrotizing hepatitis in 19%, severe interphase hepatitis in 15%, chronic hepatitis with plasmo-lymphocytic infiltrate in 30%, cirrhosis in 29% (with active inflammation in one-third); biopsy was refused in 11%. The elderly responded very well to low doses of methylprednisolone (< or =8 mg) and azathioprine (1 mg/kg). This schedule obviates side-effects such as infections seen with higher dosages. CONCLUSION: Autoimmune hepatitis has to be also looked for in the elderly with acute and chronic hepatitis. The steroid therapy should be individualized but kept at a low dose. Department of Medicine, Division of Liver and Pancreas Diseases, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, B 3000 Leuven, Belgium. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=15771755