Mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis in patients refractory or intolerant to conventional therapy. Can J Gastroenterol. 2010;24:588-592. [PMID: 21037986 DOI: 10.1155/2010/891252]

Scleroderma-like Lesions in a Patient Undergoing Combined Pembrolizumab and Routine Chemotherapy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents a challenging malignancy with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Adjuvant therapies, including chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), are commonly employed following breast conservation surgery. However, these treatments can lead to various adverse effects, including cutaneous complications and connective tissue disorders. Here, we present the case of a 54-year-old woman with TNBC who developed morphea, a form of localized scleroderma, following adjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab administration. This case highlights the rarity of drug-induced morphea and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and managing such adverse events in breast cancer patients. We discuss the clinical characteristics, diagnostic challenges, and treatment considerations associated with drug-induced scleroderma-like lesions, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying their development. Furthermore, we review the literature on the incidence, clinical features, and outcomes of scleroderma-like lesions induced by chemotherapy and ICIs. This case underscores the need for increased awareness of immune-related adverse events in patients receiving immunotherapy, as well as the importance of individualized treatment approaches to optimize patient care and outcomes.

Cyclophosphamide in refractory autoimmune hepatitis and autoimmune hepatitis coexisting extrahepatic autoimmune disorders: A review

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Despite tacrolimus (TAC) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for alternate approaches, a proportion of patients still required further exploration of other therapeutic options due to uncontrolled autoimmune hepatitis(AIH). The role of cyclophosphamide (CYC) for AIH has been explored in isolated case reports and small series. We present a review of CYC therapy in AIH patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A search for studies with keywords 'autoimmune hepatitis' and 'cyclophosphamide' was performed. Data recorded included gender, age, laboratory parameters and histological findings at the time of AIH diagnosis and before initiation of CYC therapy.

RESULTS

We identified 13 patients across 7 studies who met criteria for study inclusion, of whom around 69.2% (9/13) were primary refractory; 30.8% (4/13) patients used CYC as rescue therapy due to their coexisting autoimmune complications. The main findings of the study were that CYC appears to have an acceptable safety profile in difficult-to-treat AIH patients, with an overall remission rate of 88.9% (8/9). The other four patients with AIH accompanied by extrahepatic autoimmune disorders also achieved remission of transaminase levels and stability of liver function after the addition of CYC. A positive response to CYC treatment was seen in 12(92.3%) patients and none of them relapsed during the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

We cautiously recommend that CYC could be a conditioning alternative to starting second-line therapy after unsuccessful intensification of first-line treatment. Pharmacogenetic methods may play a role in guiding cyclophosphamide therapy. Given our small sample size, results should be considered preliminary.

Tacrolimus versus mycophenolate for AutoImmune hepatitis patients with incompLete response On first-line therapy (TAILOR study): a study protocol for a phase III, open-label, multicentre, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare, chronic inflammatory disease of the liver. The treatment goal is reaching complete biochemical response (CR), defined as the normalisation of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases and immunoglobulin gamma. Ongoing AIH activity can lead to fibrosis and (decompensated) cirrhosis. Incomplete biochemical response is the most important risk factor for liver transplantation or liver-related mortality. First-line treatment consists of a combination of azathioprine and prednisolone. If CR is not reached, tacrolimus (TAC) or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) can be used as second-line therapy. Both products are registered for the prevention of graft rejection in solid organ transplant recipients. The aim of this study is to compare the effectiveness and safety of TAC and MMF as second-line treatment for AIH.

METHODS

The TAILOR study is a phase IIIB, multicentre, open-label, parallel-group, randomised (1:1) controlled trial performed in large teaching and university hospitals in the Netherlands. We will enrol 86 patients with AIH who have not reached CR after at least 6 months of treatment with first-line therapy. Patients are randomised to TAC (0.07 mg/kg/day initially and adjusted by trough levels) or MMF (max 2000 mg/day), stratified by the presence of cirrhosis at inclusion. The primary endpoint is the difference in the proportion of patients reaching CR after 12 months. Secondary endpoints include the difference in the proportion of patients reaching CR after 6 months, adverse effects, difference in fibrogenesis, quality of life and cost-effectiveness.

DISCUSSION

This is the first randomised controlled trial comparing two second-line therapies for AIH. Currently, second-line treatment is based on retrospective cohort studies. The rarity of AIH is the main issue in clinical research for alternative treatment options. The results of this trial can be implemented in existing international clinical guidelines.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05221411 . Retrospectively registered on 3 February 2022; EudraCT number 2021-003420-33. Prospectively registered on 16 June 2021.

Autoimmune Hepatitis and Fibrosis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease of the liver, generally considered a rare condition. The clinical manifestation is extremely varied and can range from paucisymptomatic forms to severe hepatitis. Chronic liver damage causes activation of hepatic and inflammatory cells leading to inflammation and oxidative stress through the production of mediators. This results in increased collagen production and extracellular matrix deposition leading to fibrosis and even cirrhosis. The gold standard for the diagnosis of fibrosis is liver biopsy; however, there are serum biomarkers, scoring systems, and radiological methods useful for diagnosis and staging. The goal of AIH treatment is to suppress fibrotic and inflammatory activities in the liver to prevent disease progression and achieve complete remission. Therapy involves the use of classic steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants, but in recent years scientific research has focused on several new alternative drugs for AIH that will be discussed in the review.

Calcineurin Inhibitors in the Treatment of Adult Autoimmune Hepatitis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

A considerable number of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients completely or partially fail on first-line treatment. Several studies on the use of calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) in the treatment of AIH have been published without focusing on indication. The aim was to assess the efficacy of CNIs in the treatment of adult AIH patients, specifically focusing on indication: first-line intolerant and with first-line insufficient response (failure to achieve or maintain remission), and with second versus third-line treatment.

METHODS

A literature search included studies on the use of CNIs in adult AIH. Patients with past or present use of CNIs from the Dutch AIH group cohort were added. The primary endpoint was biochemical remission while using CNIs. Secondary endpoints were biochemical response, treatment failure, and adverse effects.

RESULTS

Twenty studies from the literature and nine Dutch patients were included describing the use of cyclosporine in 59 and tacrolimus in 219 adult AIH patients. The CNI remission rate was 53% in patients with insufficient response to first-line treatment and 67% in patients intolerant to first-line treatment. CNIs were used as second-line treatment in 73% with a remission rate of 52% and as third-line treatment in 22% with a remission rate of 26%. Cyclosporine was discontinued in 13% and tacrolimus in 11% of patients because of adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

CNIs as rescue treatment in adult AIH patients are reasonably effective and safe both with insufficient response or intolerance to previous treatment. Prospective studies are needed.

A reasoned approach to the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic inflammatory liver disease affecting all ages, characterised by elevated transaminase and immunoglobulin G levels, positive autoantibodies, interface hepatitis on histology and good response to immunosuppressive treatment. If untreated, it has a poor prognosis. The aim of this review is to analyse AIH therapeutic interventions with reference to our knowledge of the pathogenesis of AIH. Standard treatment, based on steroids and azathioprine, leads to disease remission in 80-90% of patients. Alternative first-line treatment with budesonide is effective in adults, but less so in the juvenile form of AIH; first-line treatment with ciclosporin does not provide convincing advantages compared to standard treatment. Second-line treatments are needed for patients not responding or intolerant to first-line standard management. Mycophenolate mofetil is the most widely used second-line drug, and has good efficacy particularly for patients intolerant to azathioprine, but is teratogenic. Only few and heterogeneous data on calcineurin inhibitors and m-TOR inhibitors are available. Biologicals, including anti-tumour necrosis factor- α and anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, have given ambivalent results and may have severe side-effects. Clinical trials with new therapeutic options aiming at targeting B lymphocytes and proinflammatory cytokines, or expanding regulatory T cells to restore tolerance are ongoing.

Long-term outcome of patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis receiving mycophenolate mofetil

BACKGROUND

Most patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) respond to a combination of prednisolone and azathioprine. For patients who are intolerant or refractory to azathioprine, proposed alternative therapies are based on scarce data, limited to transplant centres and with short-term follow-up periods.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of MMF as a second-line therapy in patients with AIH managed at a tertiary non-transplant centre.

METHODS

Retrospective analysis of a prospectively collated database identified AIH patients who received MMF from 2006 to 2015. Clinical, biochemical and immunological parameters were assessed at 3-, 6- and 12-months, and at last follow-up. Biochemical response (BR) was defined as improvement of transaminases, complete remission (CR) as normalisation of transaminases and IgG, while others were considered non-responders (NR).

RESULTS

Eighteen out of 151 (12%) AIH patients received MMF. Nine received MMF due to azathioprine-intolerance (group 1), while nine due to refractory disease (group 2). In group 1, CR and BR was achieved in six (67%) and two (22%) patients respectively. In group 2, CR and BR was achieved in one (11%) and five (56%) patients respectively. Adverse events occurred in eight patients (44%), with one patient requiring drug discontinuation. After a medium follow-up of 78 (31-116) months, there was a significant decrease in transaminase levels, mirrored by decrease in prednisolone dose from 25 to 6.25 mg/day (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

Long-term therapy with MMF is safe and effective in AIH patients requiring second-line therapies, and these patients can be effectively managed at tertiary non-liver transplant centres.

Second-line and third-line therapy for autoimmune hepatitis: A position statement from the European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases and the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group

Most patients with autoimmune hepatitis respond well to standard immunosuppressive therapy with steroids and azathioprine, and while untreated disease is usually fatal, patients who respond well to therapy have an excellent prognosis. However, insufficient response to standard therapy or intolerable side effects requiring dose adaptions or treatment changes occur in 10-20% of patients. While there is fairly good agreement on second-line treatment options, there is very wide variation in the indication and use of possible third-line therapies. Herein, the European Reference Network on Hepatological Diseases (ERN RARE-LIVER) and the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) outline a treatment algorithm for both children and adults that should help to standardise treatment approaches, in order to improve patient care and to enable the comparison of treatment results between scientific publications.

Tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil as second-line treatment in autoimmune hepatitis: Is the evidence of sufficient quality to develop recommendations?

BACKGROUND

The standard management of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is based on corticosteroids, alone or in combination with azathioprine. Second-line treatments are needed for patients who have refractory disease. However, high-quality data on the alternative management of AIH are scarce.

AIM

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and the quality of evidence by using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach (GRADE).

METHODS

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data were performed. We calculated pooled event rates for three outcome measures: Biochemical remission, adverse events, and mortality, with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

The pooled biochemical remission rate was 68.9% (95%CI: 60.4-76.2) for tacrolimus, and 59.6% (95%CI: 54.8-64.2) for MMF, and rates of adverse events were 25.5% (95%CI: 12.4-45.3) for tacrolimus and 24.1% (95%CI: 15.4-35.7) for MMF. The pooled mortality rate was estimated at 11.5% (95%CI: 7.1-18.1) for tacrolimus and 9.01% (95%CI: 6.2-12.8) for MMF. Pooled biochemical remission rates for tacrolimus and MMF in patients with intolerance to standard therapy were 56.6% (CI: 43.4-56.6) vs 73.5% (CI: 58.1-84.7), and among non-responders were 59.1% (CI: 48.7-68.8) vs 40.8% (CI: 32.3-50.0), respectively. Moreover, the overall quality assessments using GRADE proved to be very low for all our outcomes in both treatment groups.

CONCLUSION

Tacrolimus and MMF are in practice considered effective for patients with AIH who are non-responders or intolerant to first-line treatment, but we found no high-quality evidence to support this statement.

Review article: experimental therapies in autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Current therapeutic options for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are limited by adverse events associated with corticosteroids and thiopurines and the limited evidence base for second- and third-line treatment options. Furthermore, current treatment approaches require long-term exposure of patients to pharmacological agents. There have been significant advances in the understanding of the mechanisms underpinning autoimmunity and an expansion in the available therapeutic agents for suppressing autoimmune responses or potentially restoring self-tolerance.

AIM

To review the mechanisms and evidence for experimental therapies that are being actively explored in the management of AIH.

METHODS

We have reviewed the literature relating to a range of novel therapeutic immunomodulatory treatment strategies and drugs.

RESULTS

Drugs which block B cell-activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) and tumour necrosis factor α are currently in clinical trials for the treatment of AIH. Experimental therapies and technologies to increase immune tolerance, such as pre-implantation factor and regulatory T cell therapies, are undergoing development for application in autoimmune disorders. There is also evidence for targeting inflammatory pathways to control other autoimmune conditions, such as blockade of IL1 and IL6 and Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitors.

CONCLUSIONS

With the range of tools available to clinicians and patients increasing, it is likely that the therapeutic landscape of AIH will change over the coming years and treatment approaches offering lower corticosteroid use and aiming to restore immune self-tolerance should be sought.

Comparison of mycophenolate mofetil with standard treatment for autoimmune hepatitis: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To systematically evaluate the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) compared with the standard treatment for autoimmune hepatitis.

METHODS

Medline (PubMed), Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were searched between 1966 and June 2018 for studies on prednisone and/or azathioprine/mycophenolate mofetil in autoimmune hepatitis. The keywords and descriptor terms used were 'hepatitis', 'autoimmunity', 'prednisone', 'prednisolone', 'azathioprine', and 'mycophenolate mofetil'. The Z test and Cochrane Q test were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Seven hundred and eighty-eight related articles were found; 779 studies were excluded after further review. Ultimately, seven studies (583 participants) were included. The remission rate of aminotransferase and immunoglobulin (Ig)-G levels with standard treatment was 33.33-86.67%, and the nonresponse rate was 15.15-66.67%. Although the remission rate of the aminotransferase level with prednisone and MMF was 55.17-88.89% and that of the IgG level was 61.16-88.89%, the nonresponse rate was 6.42-33.33%. Remission rates of the aminotransferase level (P<0.05, I=49%) and IgG level (P<0.01, I=0) with MMF were superior to those of standard treatment, and the nonresponse rate was lower (P<0.01, I=0). For those with no response to the standard treatment who were switched to MMF, the remission rates were 0, 13.33, 22.22, 25, and 34.04%. Sequential treatment with MMF was effective (P<0.01, I=90%).

CONCLUSION

Compared with the standard treatment, the combination of prednisone and MMF as a first-line treatment enables patients with autoimmune hepatitis to obtain higher remission rates of aminotransferase and IgG levels and a lower nonresponse rate. The validity and safety of long-term MMF use needs investigated further.

Autoimmune hepatitis: Current and future therapeutic options

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a rare immune-mediated liver disease with few major advances in treatment options over the last several decades. Available options are effective in most patients albeit are imprecise in their mechanisms. Novel and more tolerable induction regimens and alternative options for management of patients intolerant or with suboptimal response to traditional therapies including in the post-transplant setting remain an important unmet need. This review aims to summarize recent data on pharmacological options and investigational drugs in development for patients with AIH. Standard therapy using prednisone with or without azathioprine remains the mainstay of therapy and is effective in most patients. Budesonide may be considered for induction in early disease and in those with mild fibrosis, but has not been approved for maintenance therapy. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in combination with steroids might be an alternative first-line therapy, but results from a randomized trial are awaited. MMF as a second-line maintenance agent has moderate efficacy though more frequent adverse events in patients with cirrhosis may be seen. Tacrolimus may be an equally effective second-line option particularly in non-responders, but data remain limited. Management of recurrent AIH post-liver transplantation remains controversial with insufficient data to support long-term steroid use. Moving forward, expanding the scope of therapeutic options to include biologics including B-cell depleting agents may be a promising step. Recent insights in understanding the pathogenesis of AIH could serve as a basis for future therapies, including the elucidation of different immunoregulatory pathways and the potential role of the intestinal microbiome.

Emerging novel treatments for autoimmune liver diseases

The etiology of autoimmune liver diseases, such as autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), still remains largely unknown and no therapeutic agents that are able to "cure" these diseases have been developed. Although corticosteroids for AIH and ursodeoxycholic acid for PBC have been shown to significantly improve liver transplantation (LT)-free survival and are recommended as first-line drugs, treatment strategies for patients who show incomplete response to these drugs have not yet been fully established. No drug is significantly associated with long LT-free survival in PSC patients. Nevertheless, with progress in genetics, immunology, and cellular biology, several new compounds or antibodies are expected to have an effect on autoimmune liver diseases and several drugs are under consideration for clinical use. Although most clinical trials have been carried out in the USA or Europe, some are, or will be, undertaken in Japan in the future. In this review, the current standard-of-care of autoimmune liver diseases will be summarized, together with emerging novel treatments relevant to clinical practice in Japan.

Systematic review with meta-analysis: mycophenolate mofetil as a second-line therapy for autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND

First-line treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) typically includes corticosteroids in combination with azathioprine. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is often used as a rescue therapy in patients who are intolerant of, or nonresponsive to, standard therapy.

AIM

To systematically review studies and perform a meta-analysis on the efficacy and safety of MMF as a second-line therapy for AIH patients.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Central were searched for studies that reported data on efficacy and safety of MMF as a second-line therapy in AIH. We calculated the pooled response rate, adverse events rate and discontinuation rate due to side effects, with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

RESULTS

Twelve studies comprising 397 patients, followed for a median of 34 months (range, 12-47 months), were included. MMF doses ranged from 0.5-4.0 g/d. Pooled response rate was 0.58 (95% CI 0.54-0.63). Pooled adverse events rate was 0.14 (95% CI 0.11-0.17), and pooled discontinuation rate due to side effects was 0.08 (95% CI 0.06-0.11). Five studies (n = 309) specified response rates according to reason for using MMF. Pooled response rate in the subgroup with intolerance to standard therapy was 0.82 (95% CI 0.77-0.87) and pooled response rate among nonresponders was 0.32 (95% CI 0.24-0.39).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall efficacy of MMF as second-line therapy in AIH was high. Response rate was greater in patients who started the medication due to intolerance to standard therapy as opposed to nonresponse. Overall, MMF was well tolerated, with a low discontinuation rate due to side effects.

Mycophenolate mofetil treatment in patients with autoimmune hepatitis failing standard therapy with prednisolone and azathioprine

BACKGROUND

Data on rescue treatment of autoimmune hepatitis in patients that fail standard treatment are sparse.

AIMS

To report our long-term experience with mycophenolate mofetil.

METHODS

Retrospective study in 22 patients with autoimmune hepatitis who failed azathioprine and prednisolone due to adverse events (n = 14, 64%), lack of remission (n = 5, 23%) or a combination (n = 3, 13%).

RESULTS

Mycophenolate mofetil was started at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day and increased to a maximum of 3 g/day. Follow-up was 0-6 months in 7 patients; more than 12 months in 15 (68%) and more than 24 months in 10. Normal aminotransferase levels were obtained (n = 3) or maintained (n = 7) in 10 patients (45%) after three to 30 weeks. 12 patients (55%) were withdrawn during the first 6 months, due to adverse events. Three patients were switched to cyclosporine and one underwent liver transplantation. Successful treatment with mycophenolate mofetil continued in 10 patients (45%) for a median of 71 months (range 20-124). Of these, one stopped prednisolone, five have a prednisolone dose <5 mg daily and four patients 5-10 mg.

CONCLUSION

Approximately one of two patients with autoimmune hepatitis that fail standard treatment benefit from long-term maintenance with mycophenolate mofetil, especially those with previous intolerance to thiopurines, where mycophenolate mofetil is effective in two thirds.

Hellenic Association for the Study of the Liver Clinical Practice Guidelines: Autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a relatively rare acute or chronic liver disease of unknown etiology characterized by large heterogeneity. Its distribution is global, covering all ages, both sexes and all ethnic groups. The aim of the present Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) of the Hellenic Association for the Study of the Liver was to provide updated guidance and help to gastroenterologists, hepatologists, internists and general practitioners for AIH diagnosis and management. AIH diagnosis is based on clinicopathological characteristics: namely, polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, particularly of immunoglobulin G (IgG), circulating autoantibodies, interface hepatitis on liver histology, absence of viral hepatitis, and a favorable response to immunosuppression. Clinical manifestations at disease onset are variable, ranging from asymptomatic to the acute/severe form. Aminotransferase and bilirubin levels vary, while the presence of hepatitis at the histological level is a prerequisite for diagnosis. Autoantibodies are the hallmark for AIH diagnosis; therefore, the CPG describe the appropriate serological algorithm for their detection. AIH therapy should aim to achieve complete biochemical (normalization of IgG and aminotransferases) and histological remission. All patients who have active disease, even those with cirrhosis, should be treated with individualized and response-guided induction therapy using prednisolone in combination with azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil as first-line therapy. Immunosuppression should be given for at least 3 years and for at least 2 years after the achievement of complete biochemical response, while a liver biopsy should be recommended before treatment discontinuation. Current CPG are also provided for several specific conditions and difficult-to-treat patients.

Inequity of care provision and outcome disparity in autoimmune hepatitis in the United Kingdom

BACKGROUND

Treatment paradigms in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) have remained largely unchanged for decades. Studies report ≤20% of patients have sub-optimal treatment response with most requiring long-term therapy.

AIM

The United Kingdom Autoimmune Hepatitis (UK-AIH) study was established to evaluate current treatment practice and outcomes, determine the unmet needs of patients, and develop and implement improved treatment approaches.

METHODS

The United Kingdom Autoimmune Hepatitis study is a cross-sectional cohort study examining secondary care management of prevalent adult patients with a clinical diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. Enrolment began in March 2014. Prevalent cases were defined as having been diagnosed and treated for >1 year. Demographic data, biochemistry, treatment history and response, and care location were collected.

RESULTS

In total, 1249 patients were recruited; 635 were cared for in transplant units and 614 in non-transplant centres (81% female with median age at diagnosis 50 years). Overall, 29 treatment regimens were reported and biochemical remission rate was 59%. Remission rates were significantly higher in transplant compared to non-transplant centres (62 vs 55%, P = 0.028). 55% have ongoing corticosteroid exposure; 9% are receiving prednisolone monotherapy. Those aged ≤20 years at diagnosis were more likely to develop cirrhosis and place of care was associated with an aggressive disease phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

There are significant discrepancies in the care received by patients with autoimmune hepatitis in the UK. A high proportion remains on corticosteroids and there is significant treatment variability. Patients receiving care in transplant centres were more likely to achieve and maintain remission. Overall poor remission rates suggest that there are significant unmet therapeutic needs for patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Autoimmune Hepatitis in the Elderly: Diagnosis and Pharmacologic Management

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may present as acute or chronic hepatitis in the elderly. Advanced hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis are common on first presentation in this population. In this review, we discuss the presentation, approach to diagnosis and management of AIH in the elderly. As polypharmacy is common in the elderly, careful medication use history is essential for detecting drug-induced AIH-like hepatitis. Steroid-sparing or minimizing therapeutic regimens are preferred to treat AIH in the elderly. For the purpose of induction, budesonide or lower dose prednisone in combination with azathioprine (AZA) regimens are preferred over high-dose prednisone monotherapy due to the higher risk of side effects of the later in the elderly. The goal of maintenance therapy should be to achieve full biochemical and histologic remission. Bone density monitoring and interventions to prevent steroid-related bone disease should be implemented throughout the course of the disease. Liver transplantation should be considered in the elderly patient with liver failure or early hepatocellular carcinoma if there are no significant comorbidities or compromise in functional status.

Autoimmune Hepatitis in the Asia-Pacific Area

Autoimmune hepatitis has been considered as a relatively rare immunological liver disease, especially in the Asia-Pacific area. Although the diagnosis criteria and immunosuppressive treatment regimens have been established, there are still some challenges. According to the different presentations, the personalized management of patients who suffer from this disease, including those with chronic or acute severe onset, the autoantibody-negative phenotype and cirrhosis are necessarily descriptive. Each subgroup of patients should receive an individualized therapy. Here, we review the recent studies of autoimmune hepatitis, mainly focusing on the epidemiology and genetics, personalized diagnostics, individualized treatment strategies, special subgroups and outcomes. Most of the research in the literature is based on Japanese and Chinese populations.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of second-line immunosuppressants for autoimmune hepatitis treatment

INTRODUCTION

The gold-standard treatment for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a prednisone/azathioprine combination. However, subgroups of patients may be unresponsive to this treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of second-line immunosuppressive therapies for AIH through a systematic review and meta-analysis in adult patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The systematic review was registered at the PROSPERO platform under number 42015019831. Databases MEDLINE (PubMed), Lilacs, Cochrane, and Scielo were searched. The keywords used were 'Hepatitis, Autoimmune' and descriptors terms (MeSH and DeCS). These terms were linked with each immunosuppressant of interest.

RESULTS

A total of 1532 studies were identified. Of these, 1492 were excluded on the basis of title and abstract reading. Among the 40 studies retrieved for detailed full-text analysis, a total of 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria for the analysis. The most studied second-line immunosuppressive was mycophenolate mofetil (MM). The mean reduction of aminotransferases was observed in 94.3% with tacrolimus/prednisone, 91.3% for cyclosporine/prednisone, 85.5% for budesonide, and 78.7% MM/prednisone. For MM/prednisone, the mean rate of histological remission was 88.6%, liver transplantation was indicated in 11.4%, and the mortality rate was 7.2%. Limitations were also present, such as the lack of randomized-controlled trials and prospective studies, the small number of patients, and the heterogeneity between remission criteria.

CONCLUSION

This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis to compare the second-line imunossupressant therapy for AIH. The most studied second-line immunosuppressive is the MM, with a reasonable histological remission. The use of combined tacrolimus/prednisone was the most effective for the normalization of aminotransferases.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil in Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis and Suboptimal Outcomes After Standard Therapy

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Little is known about outcomes of patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) who have a suboptimal outcome to standard therapy and are then given mycophenolate mofetil as rescue therapy. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil in patients failed by or intolerant to corticosteroids, with or without azathioprine.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of 105 patients with AIH who received mycophenolate mofetil therapy after an inadequate response or intolerance to standard therapy (98% received combination therapy with corticosteroids plus thiopurines). Patients were recruited from 17 liver clinics via the Australian Liver Association Clinical Research Network. We reviewed records for baseline demographic features and characteristics of liver disease, initial therapy, mycophenolate mofetil indications, treatment outcome, and side effects. The primary outcome was biochemical remission, defined as levels of alanine and aspartate transferase and IgG level within the normal reference range, with or without normal liver histology within the first 2 years of treatment.

RESULTS

The indication for mycophenolate mofetil therapy was non-response to treatment for 40% of cases and intolerance to therapy for 60%. Overall, 63 patients (60%) achieved biochemical remission following a median 12 weeks treatment with mycophenolate mofetil. The proportion of patients who achieved biochemical remission was similar between patients receiving mycophenolate mofetil for non-response to standard therapy (57%) and patients with intolerance to standard therapy (62%). However, a lower proportion of patients with cirrhosis achieved biochemical remission (47%) than patients without cirrhosis (6%) (P = .07). Serious adverse events occurred in 3 patients (2.7%) including 1 death, and 10 patients (9.2%) discontinued mycophenolate mofetil because of adverse events.

CONCLUSION

In this retrospective study of patients with AIH who received mycophenolate mofetil as a rescue therapy, we found the drug to be well tolerated and moderately effective, inducing biochemical remission in 60% of subjects. Rates of response are lower and rates of infection are higher in patients with AIH and cirrhosis. Prospective studies of mycophenolate mofetil are warranted for this population.

Autoimmune hepatitis - update on clinical management in 2017

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive immune mediated liver disease of unknown origin. Key diagnostic features include hypergammaglobulinemia/elevated serum-IgG, characteristic circulating autoantibodies, periportal hepatitis with interface activity on liver biopsy and the exclusion of hepatotropic viruses. However, the diagnosis is challenging in cholestatic and severe presentations. It can be difficult to differentiate AIH from drug-induced liver injury. Although many patients initially respond to standard immunosuppressive therapy, a significant proportion experiences intolerable side effects or insufficient treatment response. This underlines the need for effective alternative treatment options, which are still very limited and based on rather poor evidence. This review summarises core aspects of the clinical management of AIH with focus on recent achievements and unmet needs.

Efficacy and Safety of Mycophenolate Mofetil and Tacrolimus as Second-line Therapy for Patients With Autoimmune Hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Predniso(lo)ne, alone or in combination with azathioprine, is the standard-of-care (SOC) therapy for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). However, the SOC therapy is poorly tolerated or does not control disease activity in up to 20% of patients. We assessed the efficacy of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and tacrolimus as second-line therapy for patients with AIH.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective study of data (from 19 centers in Europe, the United States, Canada, and China) from 201 patients with AIH who received second-line therapy (121 received MMF and 80 received tacrolimus), for a median of 62 months (range, 6-190 mo). Patients were categorized according to their response to SOC. Patients in group 1 (n = 108) had a complete response to the SOC, but were switched to second-line therapy as a result of side effects of predniso(lo)ne or azathioprine, whereas patients in group 2 (n = 93) had not responded to SOC.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with a complete response to MMF (69.4%) vs tacrolimus (72.5%) (P = .639). In group 1, MMF and tacrolimus maintained a biochemical remission in 91.9% and 94.1% of patients, respectively (P = .682). Significantly more group 2 patients given tacrolimus compared with MMF had a complete response (56.5% vs 34%, respectively; P = .029) There were similar proportions of liver-related deaths or liver transplantation among patients given MMF (13.2%) vs tacrolimus (10.3%) (log-rank, P = .472). Ten patients receiving MMF (8.3%) and 10 patients receiving tacrolimus (12.5%) developed side effects that required therapy withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-term therapy with MMF or tacrolimus generally was well tolerated by patients with AIH. The agents were equally effective in previous complete responders who did not tolerate SOC therapy. Tacrolimus led to a complete response in a greater proportion of previous nonresponder patients compared with MMF.

Expert clinical management of autoimmune hepatitis in the real world

BACKGROUND

High-quality data on the management of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are scarce. Despite published guidelines, management of AIH is still expert based rather than evidence based.

AIM

To survey expert hepatologists, asking each to describe their practices in the management of patients with AIH.

METHODS

A survey questionnaire was distributed to members of the International AIH Group. The questionnaire consisted of four clinical scenarios on different presentations of AIH.

RESULTS

Sixty surveys were sent, out of which 37 were returned. None reported budesonide as a first line induction agent for the acute presentation of AIH. Five (14%) participants reported using thiopurine S-methyltransferase measurements before commencement of thiopurine maintenance therapy. Thirteen (35%) routinely perform liver biopsy at 2 years of biochemical remission. If histological inflammatory activity is absent, four (11%) participants reduced azathioprine, whereas 10 (27%) attempted withdrawal altogether. Regarding the management of difficult-to-treat patients, mycophenolate mofetil is the most widely used second-line agent (n = ~450 in 28 centres), whereas tacrolimus (n = ~115 in 21 centres) and ciclosporin (n = ~112 in 18 centres) are less often reported. One centre reported considerable experience with infliximab, while rescue therapy with rituximab has been tried in seven centres.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a wide variation in the management of patients with autoimmune hepatitis even among the most expert in the field. Although good quality evidence is lacking, there is considerable experience with second-line therapies. Future prospective studies should address these issues, so that we move from an expert- to an evidence- and personalised-based care in autoimmune hepatitis.

Management of Difficult Cases of Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by immune-mediated destruction of hepatic parenchyma which can result in cirrhosis, liver failure, and death. Current American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) and European Association for the Study of Liver (EASL) guidelines recommend corticosteroids alone or in combination with azathioprine as first-line treatment strategies. However, a significant proportion of patients may not be able to tolerate or achieve complete biochemical response with these options. In this article, we discuss approaches to these patients and other challenging AIH patient groups such as the asymptomatic, pregnant, elderly, and liver transplant recipients.

Contemporary issues and future directions in autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe life-threatening hepatopathy of unknown etiology, affecting both pediatric and adult populations, and characterised by inflammatory liver histology, circulating non-organ-specific autoantibodies, and hypergammaglobulinaemia. AIH is a very heterogeneous disease with a variety of clinical presentations, ranging from asymptomatic liver test abnormalities to acute severe hepatitis or even acute liver failure. It responds very well to immunosuppressive treatment with prednisolone with or without azathioprine. Patients who are intolerant or fail to respond to standard therapy are candidates for alternative immunosuppressive regimens, the combination of steroids with mycophenolate mofetil or calcineurin inhibitors being the most frequently reported. The pathogenesis of AIH remains not completely understood, although there is evidence that genetic predisposition, molecular mimicry and defective immunoregulatory mechanisms contribute to the autoimmune liver damage. Areas covered: A literature search was conducted using the key-words 'autoimmune hepatitis', 'immunogenetics', 'regulatory T-cells' and 'immunosuppression'. The aim of this review is to discuss recent breakthroughs in the understanding AIH pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment. Expert commentary: Progress in the understanding of AIH pathogenesis is likely to contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies, such as the adoptive transfer of autologous expanded antigen-specific regulatory T-cells.

Cutting edge issues in autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a severe liver disease affecting all age groups worldwide. Novel basic and clinical aspects of AIH, addressed at a Monothematic Conference in London in September 2015, are highlighted in this review. The diagnosis of AIH relies upon detection of characteristic autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis on liver histology. The International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) has devised diagnostic scoring systems to help in comparative studies and clinical practice. AIH arises in a genetically predisposed host, when yet unknown triggers - such an encounter with a pathogen - lead to a T cell-mediated immune response targeting liver autoantigens. This immune response is inadequately controlled because regulatory mechanisms are impaired. The mainstay of treatment for AIH is immunosuppression, which should be instituted as soon as the diagnosis is made. Standard treatment regimens include relatively high doses of predniso(lo)ne, which are tapered gradually as azathioprine is introduced. Recent guidelines have described newer treatment regimens and have tightened the goal of therapy to complete normalization of biochemical, serological and histological parameters. Mycophenolate mofetil, calcineurin inhibitors, mTOR inhibitors and biological agents are potential salvage therapies, but should be reserved for selected non-responsive patients and administered only in experienced centers. Liver transplantation is a life-saving option for those patients who progress to end-stage liver disease. Further dissection of cellular and molecular pathways involved in AIH pathogenesis is likely to lead to the discovery of novel, tailored and better tolerated therapies.

Mycophenolate mofetil as an alternative treatment for autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated chronic liver disease characterized by hepatocellular inflammation, necrosis, and fibrosis, which can progress to cirrhosis and fulminant hepatic failure. The standard treatment for AIH includes corticosteroids alone or in combination with azathioprine. Although most patients achieve remission using the standard regimen, some patients do not respond due to either drug intolerance or refractory disease; in such cases alternative immunosuppressive agents should be explored. The second-line therapies are cyclophilin inhibitors such as cyclosporine A or tacrolimus, and nowadays mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is widely used if azathioprine-based therapies are not tolerated. Although these are recommended as an alternative to the first-line regimen, there is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of second-line therapies, with the evidence based mainly on expert opinion. Therefore, we report an AIH patient receiving the standard regimen in whom remission did not occur due to side effects to azathioprine, but was successfully treated with MMF in combination with corticosteroids as an alternative to the standard regimen.

Refractory Autoimmune Hepatitis: Beyond Standard Therapy

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) can be difficult to control, particularly in some African-Americans. When standard therapy of prednisone and azathioprine is ineffective or poorly tolerated, alternative therapies are resorted to. We report two patients with AIH who were refractory to or intolerant of standard therapy. They initially responded to a combination of tacrolimus and MMF, but eventually developed acute flares of the disease that had to be managed with sirolimus, and in one case, rituximab, to achieve remission.

Diagnosis and Management of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Current Status and Future Directions

Autoimmune hepatitis is characterized by autoantibodies, hypergammaglobulinemia, and interface hepatitis on histological examination. The features lack diagnostic specificity, and other diseases that may resemble autoimmune hepatitis must be excluded. The clinical presentation may be acute, acute severe (fulminant), or asymptomatic; conventional autoantibodies may be absent; centrilobular necrosis and bile duct changes may be present; and the disease may occur after liver transplantation or with features that suggest overlapping disorders. The diagnostic criteria have been codified, and diagnostic scoring systems can support clinical judgment. Nonstandard autoantibodies, including antibodies to actin, α-actinin, soluble liver antigen, perinuclear antineutrophil antigen, asialoglycoprotein receptor, and liver cytosol type 1, are tools that can support the diagnosis, especially in patients with atypical features. Prednisone or prednisolone in combination with azathioprine is the preferred treatment, and strategies using these medications in various doses can ameliorate treatment failure, incomplete response, drug intolerance, and relapse after drug withdrawal. Budesonide, mycophenolate mofetil, and calcineurin inhibitors can be considered in selected patients as frontline or salvage therapies. Molecular (recombinant proteins and monoclonal antibodies), cellular (adoptive transfer and antigenic manipulation), and pharmacological (antioxidants, antifibrotics, and antiapoptotic agents) interventions constitute future directions in management. The evolving knowledge of the pathogenic pathways and the advances in technology promise new management algorithms.

The clinical phenotypes of autoimmune hepatitis: A comprehensive review

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) fulfills the generally accepted contemporary criteria of an autoimmune liver disease: the presence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells, a female gender bias, association with other autoimmune diseases, response to immunosuppressive therapy and strong associations with the major histocompatibility complex HLA loci. It occurs worldwide in both children and adults and is marked by both etiopathogenic and clinical heterogeneity, differing from the other putative autoimmune liver diseases, primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), albeit occasionally presenting with overlapping features of PBC or PSC. Although diagnostic criteria have been established and validated, there are still major issues to be clarified due to its variability, such as autoantibody-negative AIH, drug-induced AIH, AIH sharing features with PBC or PSC, and post-transplant de novo AIH. In view of the diverse presentations and courses, including classical chronic onset, acute and acute severe onset, cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis, individualized management of patients is indicated. Each patient should receive a personalized analysis of the benefits and side effect risks of drugs. Herein we describe a comprehensive review of the clinical phenotypes of AIH underscoring its clinical heterogeneity.

Autoimmune hepatitis: East meets west

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory liver disease with diverse clinical spectrum, which predominantly affects females. This review provides detailed comparisons of epidemiology, genetic predispositions, clinical features, risk factors of hepatocellular carcinoma, and mortality in AIH patients between eastern and western countries. AIH prevalence and incidence are lower in Asia-Pacific area than in Europe and America. European and American patients seem to have more severe disease, characterized with human leukocyte antigen-DR3 haplotype, younger age, more AIH-induced "cirrhosis" at diagnosis, higher elevated serum immunoglobulin G levels, and positive rate of antisoluble liver antigen/liver pancreatitis. The overall AIH diagnostic accuracy of revised original criteria and simplified scoring system are similar in European/American populations and Asian. Cirrhosis at presentation and non-response to immunosuppressive therapy within 1 year are the most important predictors for poor prognosis of AIH patients.

Everolimus treatment for patients with autoimmune hepatitis and poor response to standard therapy and drug alternatives in use

OBJECTIVE

Not all patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) respond to standard medical therapy with corticosteroids and azathioprine. Such patients may develop end-stage liver disease with poor prognosis unless transplantation is considered. Alternatively, the introduction of new therapeutic strategies could potentially ameliorate deterioration of liver function. Patients in our tertiary center were selected for everolimus therapy when exhibiting nonresponse or intolerance to combinations of the standard and empirical drugs in use (e.g., mycophenolate mofetil, calcineurin inhibitors [CNIs]). We here report the efficacy of everolimus treatment of patients with AIH.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Seven patients (six female, mean age 47 years, range 22-62 years) in whom disease control could not be achieved with standard therapy or the alternative drugs in use were included.

RESULTS

Treatment with everolimus induced a clear reduction of transaminases within 2 weeks. After 3-5 months three patients had normal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels (10-45 IU) and four patients had ALT levels below 55 IU compared to a three- to fivefold elevated level prior to everolimus treatment. Sustained remission after 1 year of treatment was observed in three patients; in another two patients ALT was 45-68 U/L. Four patients in remission after 3 years were rebiopsied. Two showed no histological progression, and in two the fibrosis had decreased. Side effects noted were myalgias and minor bacterial infections not leading to discontinuation of the drug.

CONCLUSION

Our experience indicates that everolimus may be of value in selected patients with therapy-resistant AIH and comorbidity/side effects that excludes the use of CNIs.

Ipilimumab-induced toxicities and the gastroenterologist

Ipilimumab has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with advanced melanoma. Ipilimumab acts through immune-modulation, and is recognized to cause potentially severe immune-related adverse events (irAEs) including dermatitis, colitis, thyroiditis, hypophysitis, and hepatitis. The acceptance of ipilimumab as a treatment for metastatic melanoma means patients will continue to be treated with this agent and gastroenterologists will be increasingly called upon to assist in managing severe autoimmune-related hepatitis and colitis. To date, the recommendations for managing irAEs secondary to ipilimumab have been steroids at a moderate dose of prednisolone (1 mg/kg) as well as immunosuppressive agents such as mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for steroid-refractory hepatitis and infliximab in the management of corticosteroid-refractory colitis. However, the dosing and the duration of immunosuppressive therapy have not been systematically studied in the setting of treating ipilimumab-induced irAEs. Therefore, additional immune-modifying agents and/or a change in dosing may be required to manage severe irAEs unresponsive to existing treatment recommendations. We describe a treatment paradigm illustrated by a series of five patients who experienced irAEs. In three cases of metastatic melanoma, ipilimumab-induced hepatitis was successfully treated with high-dose parenteral pulsed methylprednisolone. In two other melanoma patients with ipilimumab-induced colitis, one patient had satisfactory resolution of his colitis with high-dose corticosteroid therapy alone and the other patient required infliximab infusion. We have reviewed the current literature and management algorithms for ipilimumab-induced irAEs. Treatment options and the rationale for their use are discussed, including the use of pulsed high-dose steroids, MMF, azathioprine and calcineurin inhibitors.

Review article: The prevention and reversal of hepatic fibrosis in autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive treatment of autoimmune hepatitis can prevent or reverse hepatic fibrosis, but these anti-fibrotic effects are inconsistent secondary gains.

AIM

To describe the anti-fibrotic effects of current therapies for autoimmune hepatitis, discuss the pathogenic mechanisms of hepatic fibrosis that might be targeted by anti-fibrotic interventions, indicate the non-invasive diagnostic tests of hepatic fibrosis that must be validated in autoimmune hepatitis and to suggest promising treatment opportunities.

METHODS

Studies cited in PubMed from 1972 to 2013 for autoimmune hepatitis, hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, anti-fibrotic therapy and non-invasive tests of hepatic fibrosis were selected.

RESULTS

Hepatic fibrosis improves in 53-57% of corticosteroid-treated patients with autoimmune hepatitis; progressive fibrosis slows or is prevented in 79%; and cirrhosis may be reversed. Progressive hepatic fibrosis is associated with liver inflammation, and the inability to fully suppress inflammatory activity within 12 months is associated with progression to cirrhosis (54%) and death or need for liver transplantation (15%). Liver tissue examination remains the gold standard for assessing hepatic fibrosis, but laboratory and radiological tests may be useful non-invasive methods to measure the fibrotic response. Severe liver inflammation can confound radiological assessments, and the preferred non-invasive test in autoimmune hepatitis is uncertain. Individualised treatment adjustments and adjunctive anti-fibrotic therapies are poised for study in this disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevention and reversal of hepatic fibrosis are achievable objectives in autoimmune hepatitis. Strategies that evaluate individualised therapies adjusted to the rapidity and completeness of the inflammatory response, and the use of adjunctive anti-fibrotic interventions, must be evaluated.

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Clinical Review with Insights into the Purinergic Mechanism of Disease

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an important disorder that predominantly results in inflammatory liver disease in genetically predisposed women. The clinicopathological picture is characterized by symptoms associated with both systemic inflammation and hepatic dysfunction, and with increased serum aminotransferases, elevated IgG, autoantibodies, and interface hepatitis on liver biopsy. AIH usually results in liver injury as a consequence of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. However, rarely, patients may present with fulminant liver failure. Early diagnosis is important in all instances because the disease can be highly responsive to immunosuppressive therapeutic options. Left untreated, the disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Here we provide an overview of the current state of knowledge on AIH and summarize the treatment options for this serious condition in adults. We also discuss the pathogenesis of the disease as a possible consequence of autoimmunity and the breakdown of hepatic tolerance. We focus on regulatory T cell impairments as a consequence of changes in CD39 ectonucleotidase expression and altered purinergic signaling. Further understanding of hepatic tolerance may aid in the development of specific and well-tolerated therapies for AIH.

Review article: autoimmune hepatitis -- current management and challenges

BACKGROUND

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a disease of unknown aetiology characterised by interface hepatitis, hypergammaglobulinaemia, circulating autoantibodies and a favourable response to immunosuppression.

AIM

To review recent advancements in understanding aetiopathogenesis, clinical, serological and histological features, diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies of AIH.

METHODS

Published studies on AIH extracted mainly from PubMed during the last 15 years.

RESULTS

Autoimmune hepatitis has a global distribution affecting any age, both sexes and all ethnic groups. Clinical manifestations are variable ranging from no symptoms to severe acute hepatitis and only seldom to fulminant hepatic failure. Autoimmune attack is perpetuated, possibly via molecular mimicry mechanisms, and favoured by the impaired control of regulatory T-cells. A typical laboratory finding is hypergammaglobulinaemia with selective elevation of IgG, although in 15-25% of patients - particularly children, elderly and acute cases - IgG levels are normal. Liver histology and autoantibodies, although not pathognomonic, still remain the hallmark for diagnosis. Immunosuppressive treatment is mandatory and life-saving; however, to meet strict response criteria, the conventional therapy with prednisolone with or without azathioprine is far from ideal.

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune hepatitis remains a major diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The clinician, the hepato-pathologist and the laboratory personnel need to become more familiar with different expressions of the disease, interpretation of liver histology and autoimmune serology. According to the strict definition of treatment response issued by the 2010 AASLD guidelines, many patients are nonresponders to conventional treatment. Newer immunosuppressive agents targeting pathogenetic mechanisms can improve patient management, which needs to be tailored on a case-by-case basis.

Review article: the management of autoimmune hepatitis beyond consensus guidelines

BACKGROUND

Consensus guidelines aid in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis, but they are frequently based on low-quality clinical evidence, conflicting experiences and divergent opinions. Recommendations may be weak, discrepant or non-existent at critical decision points.

AIMS

To identify the decision points where guidelines are weak or non-existent and review the evidence essential in the decision process.

METHODS

Full-text articles published in English using the keyword 'autoimmune hepatitis' were identified by PubMed from 1972 to 2013. Personal experience and investigations in autoimmune hepatitis also identified important contributions.

RESULTS

Seventy per cent of the guidelines developed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases and 48% of those proposed by the British Society of Gastroenterology are based on low-quality evidence, conflicting experiences or divergent opinions. The key uncertainties in diagnosis relate to the timing of liver biopsy, recognising acute severe (fulminant) disease, interpreting coincidental nonclassical histological changes, accommodating atypical or deficient features in non-White patients, differentiating drug-induced from classical disease and identifying overlap syndromes. The key uncertainties in management relate to pre-treatment testing for thiopurine methyltransferase activity, treating asymptomatic mild disease, determining treatment end points, managing suboptimal responses, incorporating nonstandard medications as front-line and salvage agents, using azathioprine in pregnancy and instituting surveillance for hepatocellular carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus guidelines are fraught with uncertainties in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis. Each decision point must counterbalance the current available evidence and tailor the application of this evidence to the individual patient.

Acute and acute severe (fulminant) autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis frequently has an abrupt onset of symptoms, and it can present with acute liver failure. The abrupt presentation can indicate spontaneous exacerbation of a pre-existent chronic disease, newly created disease, a superimposed infectious or toxic injury, or new disease after viral infection, drug therapy, or liver transplantation. Deficiencies in the classical phenotype may include a low serum immunoglobulin G level and low or absent titers of the conventional autoantibodies. The original revised diagnostic scoring system of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group can guide the diagnostic evaluation, but low scores do not preclude the diagnosis. Liver tissue examination is valuable to exclude viral-related or drug-induced liver injury and support the diagnosis by demonstrating centrilobular necrosis (usually with interface hepatitis), lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, hepatocyte rosettes, and fibrosis. Conventional therapy with prednisone and azathioprine induces clinical and laboratory improvement in 68-75 % of patients with acute presentations, and high dose prednisone or prednisolone (preferred drug) is effective in 20-100 % of patients with acute severe (fulminant) presentations. Failure to improve or worsening of any clinical or laboratory feature within 2 weeks of treatment or worsening of a mathematical model of end-stage liver disease within 7 days justifies liver transplantation in acute liver failure. Liver transplantation for acute severe (fulminant) autoimmune hepatitis is as successful as liver transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis with a chronic presentation and other types of acute liver failure (patient survival >1 year, 80-94 %). Liver transplantation should not be delayed or superseded by protracted corticosteroid therapy or the empiric institution of nonstandard medications.

Infliximab as a rescue treatment in difficult-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic inflammatory liver disease that leads to liver cirrhosis and corresponding complications, if left untreated. Current standard treatment with azathioprine and prednisolone induces remission in the vast majority of patients. However, for those patients not responding to standard treatment or not tolerating these drugs, few alternatives can be used and their effectiveness might be limited. We sought to analyze the safety and efficacy of off-label treatment with infliximab in a cohort of eleven patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis.

METHODS

Patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis who could not be brought into remission with standard treatment, either due to drug intolerance or to insufficient drug impact, were treated off-label with infliximab for a minimum of six months. Patient files were reviewed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Treatment with infliximab led to reduction of inflammation, evidenced by a decrease in transaminases (mean AST prior treatment 475 U/L ± 466, mean AST during treatment 43 U/L ± 32) as well as in immunoglobulins (pretreatment mean IgG 24.8 mg/dl ± 10.1, mean IgG during treatment 17.38 mg/dl ± 6). Infectious complications occurred in seven out of eleven patients and close monitoring was necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

Infliximab may be considered as rescue therapy in patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune hepatitis, albeit treatment may be associated with infectious complications.

Autoimmune hepatitis: focusing on treatments other than steroids

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroid therapy has been the time-honoured treatment for autoimmune hepatitis; however, the emergence of new immunosuppressive agents has afforded opportunities to improve or replace the standard regimens.

OBJECTIVE

To describe technological advances and feasible treatment interventions that promise to supplant the current generation of corticosteroids.

METHODS

A review of the MEDLINE database for published experiences from 1984 to 2011 was conducted.

RESULTS

Cyclosporine and tacrolimus have been uniformly successful as salvage therapies for steroid-refractory autoimmune hepatitis. Ten reports of cyclosporine therapy involving 133 patients had positive outcomes in 93%, whereas therapy with tacrolimus in three reports involving 41 patients had positive outcomes in 98%. Salvage therapy with mycophenolate mofetil had a favourable outcome in 47%, especially in patients with azathioprine intolerance. Front-line therapy with mycophenolate mofetil normalized liver parameters in 88% and allowed corticosteroid tapering in 58%. Front-line therapy with budesonide combined with azathioprine for six months normalized liver parameters more frequently (47% versus 18%) and with fewer side effects (28% versus 53%) than prednisone combined with azathioprine. Monoclonal antibodies to CD3 and recombinant cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 fused with immunoglobulin represent feasible molecular interventions for study in autoimmune hepatitis.

DISCUSSION

Nonstandard drug therapies must be used in highly selected clinical situations including steroid failure (calcineurin inhibitors), azathioprine intolerance (mycophenolate mofetil), and mild disease or fragile patients (budesonide combined with azathioprine). Molecular interventions for autoimmune hepatitis are feasible for study because of their use in other immune-mediated diseases.

CONCLUSION

Opportunities to improve or replace standard corticosteroid regimens have emerged.

Systematic review: managing suboptimal treatment responses in autoimmune hepatitis with conventional and nonstandard drugs

BACKGROUND

Corticosteroid treatment for autoimmune hepatitis has been shown by randomised controlled clinical trials to ameliorate symptoms, normalise liver tests, improve histological findings and extend survival. Nevertheless, suboptimal responses to corticosteroid treatment still occur.

AIM

To describe the current definitions, frequencies, clinical relevance and treatment options for suboptimal responses, and to discuss alternative medications that have been used off-label for these occurrences.

METHODS

Literature search was made for full-text papers published in English using the keyword 'autoimmune hepatitis'. Authors' personal experience and investigational studies also helped to identify important contributions to the literature.

RESULTS

Suboptimal responses to standard therapy include treatment failure (7%), incomplete response (14%), drug toxicity (13%) and relapse after drug withdrawal (50-86%). The probability of a suboptimal response prior to treatment is higher in young patients and in patients with a severe presentation, jaundice, high MELD score at diagnosis, multilobular necrosis or cirrhosis, antibodies to soluble liver antigen, or inability to improve by clinical indices within two weeks or by MELD score within 7 days of conventional corticosteroid treatment. Management strategies have been developed for the adverse responses and nonstandard drugs, including mycophenolate mofetil, budesonide, ciclosporin, tacrolimus, sirolimus and rituximab, are emerging as rescue therapies or alternative frontline agents.

CONCLUSIONS

Once diagnosed, the suboptimal response should be treated by a highly individualised and well-monitored regimen, preferentially using first-line therapy. Nonstandard drugs warrant consideration as salvage or second-line therapies.