Efficacy and safety of prednisolone in patients with autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune liver diseases and diabetes

Autoimmune liver diseases include autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis, and primary sclerosing cholangitis. They are chronic, heterogenous diseases affecting the liver which is a key metabolic organ that ensures glucose homeostasis. It is well known that patients with other chronic liver diseases such as cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) display glucose disturbances like insulin resistance and have an increased risk of diabetes. Previous evidence on glucose disturbances in patients with autoimmune liver disease is scarce but does point towards a potentially increased risk of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. The underlying mechanisms are unknown but may reflect genetic predisposition, concurrent NAFLD and or cirrhosis development, and treatment (steroid) related impairment of glucose homeostasis. Therefore, increased awareness and surveillance of diabetes development in patients with autoimmune liver disease may be important. Overall, detection and treatment of diabetes generally follow the usual diabetes guidelines; however, in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis, HbA1c may not be a reliable marker of average glucose levels, and treatment with insulin is generally recommended. In addition, it has recently been suggested that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors may be beneficial in treating refractory ascites. Further research on diabetes risk in autoimmune liver disease is warranted.

Diagnosis and Clinical Implications of Diabetes in Liver Cirrhosis: A Focus on the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

The liver and skeletal muscles are responsible for maintaining glucose metabolism. As chronic liver disease progresses to cirrhosis, the loss of liver function is exacerbated and leads to the deterioration of skeletal muscle. Consequently, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and insulin resistance are often observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. Early stage cirrhosis with hepatogenous diabetes is characterized by marked postprandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. Generally, it is possible to underestimate IGT when using either the conventional fasting plasma glucose (FPG) criterion or hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) levels despite their status as the gold standard for diagnosing diabetes. The number of cirrhotic patients with diabetes tends to be underestimated because many of these patients show lower FPG levels or HbA_1c, which masks their IGT. In such cases, the oral glucose tolerance test is recommended to evaluate patients with suspected postprandial hyperglycemia who present with a normal FPG. Moreover, in addition to the Child-Pugh score, the early detection of diabetes may be a useful prognostic marker for patients with liver cirrhosis.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Autoimmune Hepatitis

OBJECTIVE

The administration of corticosteroids is a standard treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), but it can occasionally induce various adverse effects. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major complication of chronic liver diseases. We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of DM in patients with AIH.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 118 Japanese patients diagnosed with AIH from 1990 to 2014 at our institution. The prognosis of patients with and without DM was also compared.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine (24.5%) patients had DM and 21 (72.4%) received corticosteroids. The annual cumulative incidence rate of newly diagnosed DM was 1.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that DM occurred in older patients [OR=6.290; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.230-32.100; p=0.018] with higher serum immunoglobulin G levels (OR=12.400; 95% CI=2.560-60.400; p=0.002). A Cox hazard regression analysis revealed that predictive factors for DM were absence of other autoimmune diseases (OR=0.171; 95% CI=0.036-0.805; p=0.025), use of corticosteroids (OR=6.693; 95% CI=1.391-32.210; p=0.049) and lower platelet counts (OR=3.873; 95% CI=1.021-14.690; p=0.046). The 10 year survival rates of the DM and non-DM groups were 94.1% and 94.6%, respectively. There was no significant difference between these groups (p=0.293).

CONCLUSION

DM occurred in 24.5% of patients with AIH; older age, absence of other autoimmune diseases and higher serum immunoglobulin G levels are risk factors. Taking corticosteroids and a lower platelet count are risk factors for a new onset of DM. DM did not influence the prognosis of AIH patients.

Autoimmune hepatitis in diverse ethnic populations and geographical regions

Autoimmune hepatitis has diverse clinical phenotypes and outcomes in ethnic groups within a country and between countries, and these differences may reflect genetic predispositions, indigenous etiological agents, pharmacogenomic mechanisms and socioeconomic reasons. In the USA, African-American patients have cirrhosis more commonly, treatment failure more frequently and higher mortality than white American patients. Survival is poorest in Asian-American patients. Autoimmune hepatitis in other countries is frequently associated with genetic predispositions that may favor susceptibility to indigenous etiological agents. Cholestatic features influence treatment response; acute-on-chronic liver disease increases mortality and socioeconomic and cultural factors affect prognosis. Ethnic-based deviations from classical phenotypes and the frequency of late-stage disease can complicate the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis in non-white populations.

CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells: a therapeutic target for liver diseases

BACKGROUND

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) have been shown to play an important role in maintaining peripheral immune homeostasis by suppressing autoreactive and allergen-specific T cells and turning off the immune response after the pathogen has been cleared. However, in certain situations Tregs can impair effective immunity to some pathogens and tumour cells.

OBJECTIVE

To review the role of Tregs in liver pathology and to assess the potential to enhance or inhibit their function as applied to the treatment of liver disease.

METHODS

The literature was reviewed using standard indexing terms and incorporating publications up to and including those published in 2007.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS

Tregs are therapeutic targets for modulation in autoimmune disease and may provide new opportunities for application to human liver conditions.

Autoimmune liver disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this article is to review studies that improve the diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis and suggest new drug and molecular interventions.

RECENT FINDINGS

Elderly patients have an indolent but aggressive disease that responds well to corticosteroid therapy. Variant syndromes are artificial designations that reflect uncertainties regarding the diagnostic limits of classical disease. Antibodies to cyclic citrullinated proteins and complex assays for antibodies to actin and alpha-actinin may have prognostic value. Defects in the number and function of T regulatory cells may enhance cell-mediated cytotoxicity. HLA DRB113 may be a risk factor in some North American patients, and disease outcome may be influenced by the 'dose' of alleles encoding critical residues. Screening for thiopurine methyltransferase deficiency does not predict azathioprine intolerance. Treatment until normalization of the laboratory and histological features reduces the risk of relapse by 30-50%. Adverse outcomes in pregnancy are associated with antibodies to soluble liver antigen/liver pancreas and Ro/SSA.

SUMMARY

Novel serological tests may have prognostic value. Defects in the suppressor activity of regulatory T cells may promote liver injury. Genetic predispositions strongly influence disease occurrence and outcome. Laboratory and histological features should be normal prior to drug withdrawal. Azathioprine toxicities cannot be predicted.