Authors
1 Assistant Professor Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Internal, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Professor Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine Internal, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Abstract
Background
This prospective study was designed to examine the role of fibrosis staging on selection and success of treatment options for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).
Materials and Methods
The project was conducted on 110 selected AIH patients who, based on the results of liver biopsy, had been assigned into one of the three groups (mild, stages 1 and 2, moderate, stages 3 and 4, and severe, stages 5 and 6 fibrosis). The patients received prednisolone alone or in combination with azathioprine and the response to the treatment were assessed.
Results
The number of patients who were identified to have mild, moderate and severe fibrosis were 34 (31%), 35 (32%), and 41 (37%), respectively. Of 110 patients, 56 patients (51%) received prednisolone alone and 54 patients (49%) received combined drugs protocol. In total, 77 patients (70%) showed response to the treatment. The response rate for both modalities was much lower in the third group (P<0.05). However, compared to the prednisolone single therapy, the response rate of combination therapy was higher in this group.
Conclusion
Our results clearly showed that response to treatment in AIH patients is decreased as hepatic fibrosis becomes more severe. Our findings indicate that pathological staging could navigate the selection of appropriate therapy, i.e. prednisolone alone is used for mild and moderate fibrosis while combination therapy is reserved for severe cases.
Keywords
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