J Korean Med Assoc.  2005 May;48(5):456-464. 10.5124/jkma.2005.48.5.456.

Autoimmune Hepatitis: Recent Korean Trend

• Lee YS

• KMID: 2183551
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2005.48.5.456

Abstract

Autoimmune hepatitis is defined as an unresolving, predominantly periportal hepatitis of unknown etiology, usually with hypergammaglobulinemia and tissue autoantibodies, which is responsive to immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, differential diagnosis and treatment guideline have been described. In Korea the prevalence of autoimmune hepatitis seemed to be lower than that in western countries, but clinical features were similar, except for more severe female preponderance. According to recent clinical survey, mean age is 47.8, and MF ratio is 9:1. Mostly type 1, and had cirrhosis in 22% at the time of diagnosis. 16% of patients had associated immunologic disorders. The diagnosis is definite is 47.3%, and probable in 51.3%. 72% were treated with immunosuppressive therapy with remission rate of 70%. To understand the clinical features of autoimmune hepatitis adquately, nationalwide prospective clinical and epidemiological studies are needed urgently.

Keyword

Autoimmune hepatitis; Clinical manifestation; Diagnosis; Treatment; Korean trend

MeSH Terms

Autoantibodies
Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Female
Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis, Autoimmune*
Humans
Hypergammaglobulinemia
Korea
Prevalence
Autoantibodies

Figure

• 

  Figure 1

• 

  Figure 2

Reference

1. McFarlane IG. Definition and Classification of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Semin Liver Dis. 2002. 22:317–324.

3. Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG, Eddleton ALWF. The natural course and heterogenecity of autoimmune type chronic active hepatitis. Semin Liver Dis. 1991. 11:187–196.

4. McFarlane IG. Autoimmune hepatitis: diagnostic criteria, subclassification, and clinical features. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:317–333.

6. Czaja AJ, Ireese DK. AASLD Practice guidelines. Diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology. 2002. 36:479–497.

7. Ben-Ari Z, Czaja AJ. Autoimmune hepatitis and its variant syndromes. Gut. 2001. 49:589–594.

8. Carpenter HA, Czaja AJ. The role of histologic evaluation in the diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis and its variants. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:685–705.

9. Liu ZX, Kaplowitz N. Immune-mediated drug-induced liver disease. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:755–774.

10. Alrarez F, Bianchi FB, Bianchi L, Burroughs AK, Cancado EL, Zeniya M, et al. International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Report: review of criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol. 1999. 31:929–938.

12. Kaymakoglu S, Cakaloglu Y, Demir K, Turkoglu S, Badur S, Okten A, et al. Is severe cryptogenic chronic hepatitis similar to autoimmune hepatitis? J Hepatol. 1998. 28:78–83.

13. Beuers U. Hepatic overlap syndrome. J Hepatol. 2005. 42:S93–S99.

14. Czaja AJ. Treatment strategies in autoimmune hepatitis. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:799–824.

15. Czaja AJ, Rokela J, Luderig J. Features reflective of early prognosis in corticosteroid-treated severe autoimmune chronic active hepatitis. Gastroenterology. 1988. 95:448–453.

16. Ahmed M, Mutimer D, Hathaway M, Hubscher S, McMaster P, Elias E. Liver Transplantation for autoimmune hepatits; a 12-year experience. Transplantation Proc. 1997. 29:496.

17. Newberger J. Transplantation for autoimmune hepatitis. Semin Liver Dis. 2002. 22:365–385.

18. Vierling JM, Flores PA. Evolving new therapies of autoimmune hepatitis. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:825–850.

21. Boberg KM. Prevalence and epidemiology of autoimmune hepatitis. Clin Liver Dis. 2002. 6:635–647.