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Harrison L, Hoeroldt B, Dhaliwal H, Wadland E, Dube A, Gleeson D. Long-term Outcome of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Consecutive Patient Cohort and Data on the Second Twenty Years. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55:1515-1520. [PMID: 37455155 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mortality rates for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) vary. Data are lacking beyond 20 years follow-up. AIMS Analysis of a consecutively recruited large AIH cohort from a single non-transplant tertiary centre in England and an overlapping cohort, already followed for ≥ 20 years. METHODS We assessed 330 patients presenting 1987-2016 and 65 patients presenting 1971-96 already followed for 20 years. RESULTS Death/liver transplant rate was 51±4% (all-cause) and 21±4% (liver-related) over 20 years and was independently associated with: decompensation and lower serum ALT at diagnosis; and failure of serum ALT normalisation and higher relapse rate. There was excess mortality over the first year. Patients (n = 65) already followed for twenty years had similar subsequent rates of relapse, disease progression and mortality, to those followed from diagnosis. Azathioprine-intolerant patients (n = 23) switching to Mycophenolate did not have higher mortality over 4(1-17) years, than patients continuing Azathioprine. Following immunosuppression withdrawal (n = 26), six (23% patients) relapsed with no liver-related deaths over 2.3(0-23.1) years. CONCLUSIONS In this consecutive autoimmune hepatitis cohort, mortality was similar to that in national registry studies, disease progression continued after 20 years, and immunosuppression withdrawal did not compromise survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Harrison
- Liver Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom; Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, The University of Sheffield, Medical School, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Barbara Hoeroldt
- Liver Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom
| | - Harpreet Dhaliwal
- Department of Hepatology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Cobbett House, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9WL
| | - Elaine Wadland
- Liver Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom
| | - Asha Dube
- Liver Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom
| | - Dermot Gleeson
- Liver Unit, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Herries Road, Sheffield, S5 7AU, United Kingdom
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Wang G, Tanaka A, Zhao H, Jia J, Ma X, Harada K, Wang FS, Wei L, Wang Q, Sun Y, Hong Y, Rao H, Efe C, Lau G, Payawal D, Gani R, Lindor K, Jafri W, Omata M, Sarin SK. The Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver clinical practice guidance: the diagnosis and management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatol Int 2021; 15:223-257. [PMID: 33942203 PMCID: PMC8144150 DOI: 10.1007/s12072-021-10170-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Guiqiang Wang
- Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China. .,Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | | | - Hong Zhao
- Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China.,Peking University International Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jidong Jia
- Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiong Ma
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kenichi Harada
- Department of Human Pathology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medicine Kanazawa, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Fu-Sheng Wang
- Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lai Wei
- Beijing Tsinghua Changgung Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Qixia Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Digestive Disease, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Fifth Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Hong
- Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Huiying Rao
- Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Cumali Efe
- Department of Gastroenterology, Harran University, Şanlıurfa, Turkey
| | - George Lau
- Humanity and Health Medical Group, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Diana Payawal
- Department of Hepatology, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rino Gani
- Department of Internal Medicine, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Keith Lindor
- College of Health Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Masao Omata
- Department of Gastroenterology, Yamanashi Prefectural Central Hospital, Kofu-City, Yamanashi, Japan.,The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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Zheng W, Jiang F, Shan J, Wang Y, Jia Y, Guo Q, Lou J, Zhao Y. Levels of serum IgG subclasses in patients with liver disease: A retrospective study. Exp Ther Med 2020; 21:45. [PMID: 33273974 PMCID: PMC7706388 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2020.9476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral and alcoholic liver disease, drug induced liver disease (DILD), primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are among the most common liver diseases observed in clinical practice. These diseases lack unique clinical characteristics at the beginning of pathogenesis, which renders specific diagnosis difficult. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) subclasses are the main isoform of antibodies that can be found in the serum that serve important protective roles in immunity. The present study aimed to investigate the serum IgG subclass distribution in patients with the five common liver diseases aforementioned. The present study retrospectively recorded and analyzed the serum IgG subclass levels of different patients, who were grouped according to their clinical diagnosis. Serum IgG subclass levels were measured using immunonephelometric assays. IgG3 levels were found to be significantly increased whereas IgG4 levels were significantly decreased in patients with PBC. In patients with AIH, IgG1 levels were significantly increased. By contrast, IgG1/IgG level ratios in patients with viral liver disease were significantly increased. No clear pattern in the distribution characteristics of IgG subclasses could be observed in cohorts with alcoholic liver disease and DILD in the present study. Additionally, model for end-stage liver disease scores regarding IgG1 in patients with AIH shared a synergistic relationship. Anti-mitochondrial antibody subtype M2 (AMA-M2) and IgG3 in patients with PBC demonstrated a synergistic relationship. These results suggested that IgG subclasses may be used as biomarkers to further the understanding of liver disease, which could allow for early diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zheng
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Feifei Jiang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Jing Shan
- Department of Hepatology and Immunology, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Ying Wang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Yongmei Jia
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Qiuyan Guo
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Jinli Lou
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
| | - Yan Zhao
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Beijing YouAn Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, P.R. China
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Wang H, Feng X, Yan W, Tian D. Regulatory T Cells in Autoimmune Hepatitis: Unveiling Their Roles in Mouse Models and Patients. Front Immunol 2020; 11:575572. [PMID: 33117375 PMCID: PMC7575771 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.575572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe and chronic liver disease, and its incidence has increased worldwide in recent years. Research into the pathogenesis of AIH remains limited largely owing to the lack of suitable mouse models. The concanavalin A (ConA) mouse model is a typical and well-established model used to investigate T cell-dependent liver injury. However, ConA-induced hepatitis is acute and usually disappears after 48 h; thus, it does not mimic the pathogenesis of AIH in the human body. Several studies have explored various AIH mouse models, but as yet there is no widely accepted and valid mouse model for AIH. Immunosuppression is the standard clinical therapy for AIH, but patient side effects and recurrence limit its use. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play critical roles in the maintenance of immune homeostasis and in the prevention of autoimmune diseases, which may provide a potential therapeutic target for AIH therapy. However, the role of Tregs in AIH has not yet been clarified, partly because of difficulties in diagnosing AIH and in collecting patient samples. In this review, we discuss the studies related to Treg in various AIH mouse models and patients with AIH and provide some novel insights for this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinxia Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dean Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Than NN, Hodson J, Schmidt-Martin D, Taubert R, Wawman RE, Botter M, Gautam N, Bock K, Jones R, Appanna GD, Godkin A, Montano-Loza AJ, Lammert F, Schramm C, Manns MP, Swain M, Burak KW, Adams DH, Hirschfield GM, Oo YH. Efficacy of rituximab in difficult-to-manage autoimmune hepatitis: Results from the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. JHEP Rep 2019; 1:437-445. [PMID: 32039395 PMCID: PMC7005655 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Treatment options remain limited for patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), while there are still concerns over the consequences of long-term corticosteroid use. A few studies have suggested a role for B cell-driven autoimmune liver injury in AIH. This multicentre, international retrospective cohort study from the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group aims to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of rituximab in difficult-to-manage AIH. METHODS Clinical data from 22 patients who received rituximab between 2007 and 2017 were collected from centres in the United Kingdom, Germany and Canada. Clinical response was assessed using changes in biochemical and immunological parameters up to 24 months post-rituximab infusion. In addition, we compared the doses of prednisolone used 3 months before and 12 months after treatment, and assessed freedom from AIH flares over the post-treatment period. RESULTS Twenty-two patients with type-1 AIH were included, with a median age of 40 years at diagnosis (range 19-79); 15/22 (68%) were female and 18/22 (82%) were Caucasian. The median period from diagnosis to the end of follow-up in these patients was 11 years (range 3-28). Values of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and albumin improved significantly following rituximab therapy, and were sustained for up to 2 years (all p ≪0.001). Prednisolone doses were significantly reduced by 12 months post-treatment (p = 0.003), with 13/21 (62%) patients having a dose reduction. Over a median post-treatment follow-up period of 6 years (range 1-10), 5 patients developed AIH flares at a median of 22 months post-treatment, giving an estimated 71% freedom from AIH flare at 2 years. Four of these patients received a second course of treatment, of whom 2 had subsequent further flares. No serious adverse events attributable to rituximab were recorded. CONCLUSION In patients with difficult-to-manage AIH, rituximab appears to be clinically effective and well tolerated. Rituximab was associated with sustained improvements in serum liver tests, an absence of clinical disease flares, and a reduction in prednisolone dose. Controlled trials are warranted to further evaluate B cell-targeting therapies in patients with AIH. LAY SUMMARY Autoimmune hepatitis is an autoimmune condition of the liver, usually treated with medications that suppress the immune system, such as steroids. However, some patients do not respond to this treatment. We analysed the safety and efficacy of rituximab in patients who were not responding to first- or second-line therapies. Rituximab was safe and improved liver blood tests in 70% of patients over a 2-year follow-up period, while enabling steroid doses to be reduced in two-thirds of patients, which is a very positive clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nwe Ni Than
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research & National Institute of Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - James Hodson
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel Schmidt-Martin
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Taubert
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- European Reference Network (ERN) Rare Liver
| | - Rebecca E. Wawman
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research & National Institute of Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Imperial College, London
| | - Meemee Botter
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research & National Institute of Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- University of Amsterdam, Netherland
| | - Nishant Gautam
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
| | - Kilian Bock
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- European Reference Network (ERN) Rare Liver
| | - Rebecca Jones
- Leeds Liver Transplant Unit, St James University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | - Andrew Godkin
- University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Frank Lammert
- Department of Medicine II, Saarland University Medical Centre, Homburg
| | - Christoph Schramm
- University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, I. Department of Medicine and Martin Zeitz Centre for Rare Diseases, Germany
| | - Michael P. Manns
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany; Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Braunschweig, Germany
- European Reference Network (ERN) Rare Liver
| | - Mark Swain
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - Kelly W. Burak
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Calgary, Canada
| | - David H. Adams
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research & National Institute of Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Autoimmune Liver Diseases Clinic, Centre for Rare Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Gideon M Hirschfield
- University of Toronto, Canada
- Toronto Centre for Liver Disease, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ye Htun Oo
- Liver Transplant and Hepatobiliary Unit, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, United Kingdom
- Centre for Liver and Gastroenterology Research & National Institute of Health Research Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Autoimmune Liver Diseases Clinic, Centre for Rare Diseases, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- European Reference Network (ERN) Rare Liver
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Bossen L, Gerussi A, Lygoura V, Mells GF, Carbone M, Invernizzi P. Support of precision medicine through risk-stratification in autoimmune liver diseases – histology, scoring systems, and non-invasive markers. Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17:854-865. [DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Hieng Ngu
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore
- Duke-National University of Singapore Medical School, Singapore
| | - Richard Blair Gearry
- Department of Gastroenterology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
- University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Catherine Ann Malcolm Stedman
- Department of Gastroenterology, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
- University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand
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Autoimmune Hepatitis: Progress from Global Immunosuppression to Personalised Regulatory T Cell Therapy. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2016; 2016:7181685. [PMID: 27446862 PMCID: PMC4904688 DOI: 10.1155/2016/7181685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune mediated liver injury. The precise aetiology of AIH is still unknown but current evidence suggests both genetic and environmental factors are involved. Breakdown in peripheral self-tolerance, and impaired functions of FOXP3(+) regulatory T cell along with effector cell resistance to suppression at the tissue level seem to play an important role in AIH immunopathogenesis. AIH is predominantly a T lymphocytes driven disease but B lymphocytes are also involved in the immunopathology. Innate immune cells are crucial in the initial onset of disease and their response is followed by adaptive T (Th1, Th17, and cytotoxic T cells) and B cell responses evidenced by liver histology and peripheral blood serology. Standard treatment regimens involving steroid and immunosuppressive medications lead to global immune suppression requiring life-long therapy with many side effects. Biologic therapies have been attempted but duration of remission is short-lived. Future direction of diagnosis and treatment for AIH should be guided by "omics" and the immunology profile of the individual patient and clinicians should aim to deliver personalised medicine for their patients. Cell therapy such as infusion of autologous, antigen-specific, and liver-homing regulatory T cells to restore hepatic immune tolerance may soon be a potential future treatment for AIH patients.
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