Autoimmune Hepatitis

Autoimmune Hepatitis
Pratap Sagar Tiwari
TOTAL SLIDES;110

NOTICE
2
• This ppt slide is a work of compilation from various sources. This is for
educational purpose only. Please do not edit, delete or rename.
• All credit goes to the original researchers. References included.
• Thankyou.
• pratapsagartiwari@gmail.com

Case scenarios
Case 1: A 46-year old female , non alcoholic, presented
with a recently occurred jaundice.
• No diseases were found in the patient's medical
history.
• Clinical examination showed no other findings except
from the icterus.
Highly elevated liver enzymes and bilirubin.
Ultrasound examination was unremarkable.
Negative serology for hepatitis A, B ,C and E
Marked immunoglobulin G (IgG) elevation.
ANA and smooth muscle antibodies (SMA)+++
Low albumin and prolonged INR
Moderate elevation of liver enzymes and a high bilirubin.
Ultrasound examination revealed hepatic parenchymal
changes, splenomegaly, and ascites.
EGD showed SEV
Serology for hepatitis A, B, C, E was negative.
A marked IgG elevation.
Autoimmune antibodies (ANA and SMA)++
Case 2: A 48-year old female was admitted to hospital
with epigastric pain and icterus.
• Similar symptoms reoccurred regularly since several
years.
• She reported chronic pain in her finger joints and
appearance of haematomas without adequate
trauma.
3

Definition: Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH)
• AIH is an non-resolving CLD that affects mainly women and is characterized by
hypergammaglobulinaemia, circulating autoantibodies, a/with human leukocyte
antigens (HLA) DR3 or DR4, interface hepatitis on liver histology, and a favourable
response to immunosuppression . [1-4]
• The disease, if untreated, often leads to cirrhosis, liver failure and death.
4
1. Krawitt EL. Autoimmune hepatitis. N Engl J Med 2006;354:54–66.
2. Lohse AW, Mieli-Vergani G. Autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol 2011;55: 171–182.
3. Zachou K, Muratori P, Koukoulis GK, Granito A, Gatselis N, Fabbri A, et al. Review article: autoimmune hepatitis – Current management and challenges. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013;38:887–913.
4. Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D. Autoimmune hepatitis – Update 2015. J Hepatol 2015;62:S1–S186.

• In the early 1950s, a novel type of chronic hepatitis with several
articular features, predilection for young women, a progressive and
usually fatal outcome accompanied by arthralgia, endocrine
dysfunction, cutaneous striae and acne, and very high levels of
immunoglobulins in the serum that correlated with an excess of
plasma cells in the liver, was reported firstly by the Swedish
physician Jan Waldenström [1] and later by Kunkel et al.[4]
In 1956, the lupus erythematosus cell phenomenon was
demonstrated in these pts and therefore, the term
‘‘lupoid hepatitis’’ was introduced by the group of Ian
Mackay. [2] The term autoimmune hepatitis was applied
in 1965 by Cowling and Mackay,[3] and endorsed
globally in 1993.
5
1. Waldenstrom J: [Liver, blood proteins and nutritive protein]. Dtsch Z Verdau Stoffwechselkr 9:113–119, 1953.
2. Mackay IR, Taft LI, Cowling DC: Lupoid hepatitis and the hepatic lesions of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lancet
1(7063):65–69, 1959.
3. Mackay IR, Weiden S, Hasker J: Autoimmune hepatitis. Ann N Y Acad Sci 124(2):767–780, 1965.
4. Kunkel HG, Ahrens Jr EH, Eigenmenger WJ, Bougiovanni AM, Slater RJ. Extreme hypergammaglobulinemia in young
women with liver disease of unknown etiology. J Clin Invest 1951;30:654.

Epidemiology
• Prevalence of AIH ranges from 15-25 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in Europe and is
variable according to regions of the world and increasing in both women and men (3:1).
• AIH can affect all populations and all age groups
• Bimodal distribution usually with peaks around puberty and between 4th and 6th decade.
6

Modes of presentation
Asymptomatic/Silent
Acute presentation
Chronic liver disease
Up to a third of pts have an insidious onset and gradual progression without apparent
symptoms at DX (asymptomatic) and the final DX is usually established during investigation for
unexplained elevation of serum ATs on routine testing or testing performed for other reasons.
Approx one-third of pts present with an acute onset of AIH, which is phenotypically similar to
acute hepatitis cases of other causes.
However, acute presentation of AIH actually may contain 2 different clinical entities.
One is the acute exacerbation of chronic AIH (acute exacerbation form of undiagnosed or
misdiagnosed AIH cases) and the other is the genuine acute AIH without chronic histological
changes (acute form of AIH).
7

Acute presentation
• Of note, in some pts with acute presentation of AIH, IgG levels may be within the normal
range and ANA and/or SMA as first screening may be negative and thus, the clinician
may not consider AIH. A more extensive and sensitive autoimmune liver serology testing
could be helpful in such cases.
• Furthermore, in some pts autoantibodies may only become positive some months later in
the disease course.
• Some of these acute cases of AIH may rarely progress to ALF.
The identification of AIH as the aetiology of acute hepatitis and/or fulminant hepatic failure is very important because a
delay of the DX and thus delay of initiation of therapy results in poorer prognosis of AIH, whereas administration of
immunosuppression with steroids might avoid the need for LT.
8

• Pts can present with a variety of non‐specific symptoms, including jaundice, fatigue,
lethargy, nausea, anorexia, weight loss, abdominal pain, pruritus, arthralgia, arthritis,
acne, and amenorrhea.
• Physical findings may be normal, but sometimes hepatomegaly, occasionally painful,
splenomegaly and, when frank cirrhosis has developed, signs and symptoms of CLD like
palmar erythema and spider naevi may be found.
• In advanced stages, the clinical picture of PHTN dominates including ascites, EV and PHG,
cytopenias due to hypersplenism as well as HE.
9

Subclassification of AIH
• According to the pattern of autoantibodies detected, a subclassification of the disease
into two or three subtypes has been proposed.
• Initially, two major types, AIH-1 and AIH-2, have been proposed.
• AIH-1 is characterized by the presence of ANA and/or SMA.
• AIH-2 is characterized by the detection of specific anti-liver/kidney microsomal antibody
type 1 (anti-LKM1) or infrequently anti-LKM type 3 (anti-LKM3) and/or antibodies against
liver cytosol type 1 antigen (anti-LC1).
Similarly, the discovery of antibodies against soluble liver antigens (anti-SLA), later found to be identical with previously
described antibodies against liver pancreas (anti-LP) and therefore called anti-SLA/LP antibodies, lead to the definition of a
third subtype, AIH-3 .
Differences between AIH-1 and AIH-3 seemed less pronounced than between AIH-1 and AIH-2, but some authors
postulated more severe disease and the need for lifelong immunosuppression in most if not all AIH-3 pts.
10

Clinical differences between
serological classifications of AIH
11

Variant forms of AIH and cholestatic liver disease
• Some pts within the spectrum of AIH present either simultaneously or consecutively, with
clinical, biochemical, serological, and/or histological characteristics of PBC or PSC.
• Vice versa, some pts with a DX of PBC or PSC show or develop features of AIH.
• So far, several terms have been used to describe these phenomena, in particular ‘‘overlap
syndromes’’, but also ‘‘the hepatitic forms of PBC ’’, ‘‘secondary autoimmune hepatitis’’,
‘‘autoimmune cholangitis’’, ‘‘autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis’’ or ‘‘combined
hepatitic/cholestatic syndromes’’ to describe pts with features of both AIH and PBC or
PSC . [1-4]
12
1. Boberg KM, Chapman RW, Hirschfield GM, Lohse AW, Manns MP, Schrumpf E, et al. Overlap syndromes: the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) position statement on a controversial issue. J Hepatol
2011;54: 374–385.
2. Gregorio GV, Portmann B, Karani J, Harrison P, Donaldson PT, Vergani D, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis/sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome in childhood: a 16-year prospective study. Hepatology 2001;33:544–553.
3. Rojas CP, Bodicharla R, Campuzano-Zuluaga G, Hernandez L, Rodriguez MM. Autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis in children and adolescents. Fetal Pediatr Pathol 2014;33:202–209.
4. Mieli-Vergani G, Heller S, Jara P, Vergani D, Chang MH, Fujisawa T, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 2009;49:158–164.

Variants
• Features of both AIH and PBC
• Features of both AIH and PSC
• IgG4-related AIH
• DILI and AIH
• AIH and pregnancy
• Viral hepatitis and AIH
• De novo AIH in liver transplant recipients
• Associated autoimmune conditions
13

Features of both AIH and PBC
• Prevalence of AIH-PBC variant is approx 8–10% of adult pts with either PBC or AIH .[1,2]
• The ‘‘Paris criteria’’[1] are currently the most commonly used tool for diagnosing AIH-PBC
variant form as attested by the presence of at least two of the three accepted key criteria
of each disease
141. Chazouilleres O, Wendum D, Serfaty L, Montembault S, Rosmorduc O, Poupon R. Primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome: clinical features and response to therapy. Hepatology 1998;28: 296–301.
2. Heurgue A, Vitry F, Diebold MD, Yaziji N, Bernard-Chabert B, Pennaforte JL, et al. Overlap syndrome of primary biliary cirrhosis and autoimmune hepatitis: a retrospective study of 115 cases of autoimmune liver disease. Gastroenterol Clin Biol 2007;31:17–25.

Features of both AIH and PBC
• Chazouilleres et al. has shown that the criteria could identify pts with a clinical DX of AIH-
PBC ‘‘variant’’ with high SN(92%) and SP(97%). [1]
• The 2009 EASL endorsed these DX criteria, but specified that histologic evidence of
moderate-severe lymphocytic interface hepatitis was mandatory.
• It was stated that these ‘‘variants’’ should always be considered once PBC has been DX
and the pt responds poorly to UDCA because of potential therapeutic implications (i.e.
the need of immunosuppression).
Simultaneous presence of features of both diseases is the usual presentation, but it should be noted that occasionally
the onset of AIH and PBC is temporally dissociated, usually with PBC presenting first.
15
1. Chazouilleres O, Wendum D, Serfaty L, Montembault S, Rosmorduc O, Poupon R. Primary biliary cirrhosis-autoimmune hepatitis overlap syndrome: clinical features and response to therapy. Hepatology 1998;28: 296–
301.

Features of both AIH and PSC
• The co-existence of features of AIH and PSC has been described both in children and
adults and is assumed to exist in a considerable part of mainly young pts with
autoimmune liver disease. Unfortunately, diagnostic criteria for these conditions are even
less well-defined . An approx prevalence of 7–14% is generally assumed.[1]
• Some cases of small duct PSC (normal cholangiogram)-AIH variant forms have also been
reported, but it can be argued that approx 10% of pts with typical AIH, with or without
UC, may have histological features of BD injury, thus making this DX particularly uncertain.
[2]
• In clinical practice, the DX of AIH-PSC ‘‘variants’’ is made in a pt with overt
cholangiographic or histological features of PSC, alongside robust biochemical, serological
and histological features of AIH.
16
1. Boberg KM, Chapman RW, Hirschfield GM, Lohse AW, Manns MP, Schrumpf E, et al. Overlap syndromes: the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) position statement on a controversial issue. J Hepatol
2011;54: 374–385.
2. Czaja AJ, Carpenter HA. Autoimmune hepatitis with incidental histologic features of bile duct injury. Hepatology 2001;34:659–665.

Features of both AIH and PSC
• It should be noted that in children with AIH a specific entity has been described in almost
half of pts characterized by lesions of both AIH and sclerosing cholangitis. Thus, the term
‘‘autoimmune sclerosing cholangitis (AISC)’’ was introduced by Mieli-Vergani’s group[1]
suggesting also the need of an investigation of the biliary tree at least with MRCP in all
children with a DX of AIH.
Particularly in young adults with AIH and cholestatic features, and in AIH pts with remaining cholestasis despite adequate
immunosuppression, MRCP for the detection of possible underlying or co-existent PSC is recommended.
171. Gregorio GV, Portmann B, Karani J, Harrison P, Donaldson PT, Vergani D, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis/sclerosing cholangitis overlap syndrome in childhood: a 16-year prospective study. Hepatology 2001;33:544–553.

IgG4-related AIH
• In the emerging era of IgG4-related
diseases, the role of IgG4 response has
been investigated in AIH pts.
• Typically IgG4 disease in the liver
manifests as a DD of PSC with features
of cholangiopathy and jaundice.
18

DILI and AIH
• The relationship between DILI and AIH is complex and not fully understood. In practice,
three scenarios are possible:
1. DILI with a strong immunoallergic component mimicking
AIH
2. AIH mimicking as DILI due to drug exposure in recent
weeks and spontaneous improvement after cessation of
drug exposure
3. AIH triggered by an offending drug (DILI-induced AIH)
Histologically distinguishing DILI from AIH remains a challenge.
Although the frequency of drug-induced AIH-like syndrome is
difficult to be assessed, it can account for approx 9–12% of
cases with classical features of AIH. [1]
An important element in the identification is the pt’s history
that should focus on recent exposure to drugs that can induce
AIH-DILI.
191. Heurgué A, Bernard-Chabert B, Diebold M, Vitry F, Louvet H, Geoffroy P. Drug-induced autoimmune hepatitis:
a frequent disorder. Gut 2007;56:A271.

• Severe AIH-DILI usually responds to high doses of
steroids in the same way as severe AIH, if treatment is
started without delay.
• Sometimes only the follow-up can differentiate
between AIH and DILI: steroid treatment can be
discontinued without relapse in DILI, whereas in
genuine AIH relapse will occur universally, if
immunosuppression is stopped within a few months.
• A trial of steroid treatment and close observation
upon steroid tapering and possible withdrawal is
therefore recommended for uncertain cases .
20

AIH and pregnancy
• The disease is very rarely DX during pregnancy, but, like other autoimmune diseases, may
notably manifest in the postpartum period.
• In pts with known AIH, improvement or even spontaneous remissions during pregnancy
can be observed, while flares after delivery are frequently observed .
• This is presumably due to immune reconstitution following delivery. Therefore, the
possibility of AIH should be strongly considered in the DD of liver dysfunction, particularly
accompanied by hypergammaglobulinemia with selective IgG elevation, in the post-
partum period, but even during pregnancy, as flares can also occur anytime during
pregnancy.
Effective immunosuppression has enabled the occurrence of pregnancy in young females with AIH presenting initially with
amenorrhea, and immunosuppression should almost always be continued during pregnancy with generally good
pregnancy outcome.
21

Viral hepatitis and AIH
• It has been suggested, that in susceptible individuals, AIH may be induced by viral
infections, and a number of possible cases have been reported.
• Molecular mimicry between viral epitopes and epitopes of autoantigens have supported
the concept of virally induced AIH.
On the other hand, the few cases reported might also represent a diagnostic bias in two forms:
• Firstly, pts with subclinical AIH previously overlooked may become DX when suffering from an acute incidental viral
hepatitis;
• Secondly, pts with acute AIH and marked hypergammaglobulinaemia might display false positive results on serology for
viral markers.
22

Viral hepatitis and AIH
• On the other hand, the development of AIH, or of features of AIH, has also been
reported in some pts with HCV after RX with interferon-alpha.[1,2]
• The differentiation between AIH and chronic HCV was a challenge in the past, particularly
because of the immunostimulatory side effects of interferon-alpha, but due to the advent
of interferon-free treatment regimens, this represents no longer a difficult clinical
problem: HCV infection should be RX primarily, and if inflammatory liver disease
persists, the diagnosis of AIH should be considered.
23
1. Dalekos GN, Wedemeyer H, Obermayer-Straub P, Kayser A, Barut A, Frank H, et al. Epitope mapping of cytochrome P4502D6 autoantigen in patients with chronic hepatitis C during alpha-interferon treatment. J
Hepatol 1999;30:366–375.
2. Muratori L, Lenzi M, Cataleta M, Giostra F, Cassani F, Ballardini G, et al. Interferon therapy in liver/kidney microsomal antibody type 1-positive patients with chronic hepatitis C. J Hepatol 1994;21:199–203.

De novo AIH in liver transplant recipients
• AIH, or an AIH-like syndrome, can develop after LT undertaken for other liver diseases,
both in adults and children. This situation has been called ‘‘de novo AIH’’,[2,3] although it
has been suggested that alternative nomenclature such as ‘‘post-transplant immune
hepatitis’’ or ‘‘graft dysfunction mimicking AIH’’ or ‘‘posttransplant plasma cell
hepatitis’’ may be more appropriate as the conditions not strictly ‘‘autoimmune’’. [1,4]
• Nevertheless, the timely recognition of this entity appears to be helpful for avoiding graft
rejection, and the need for another LT and for improving long-term survival, as these pts
benefit from increased immunosuppression including steroids and azathioprine like in
genuine AIH.
24
1. Manns MP, Lohse AW, Vergani D. Autoimmune hepatitis – Update 2015. J Hepatol 2015;62:S1–S186.
2. Mieli-Vergani G, Vergani D. De novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation. J Hepatol 2004;40:3–7.
3. Montano-Loza AJ, Vargas-Vorackova F, Ma M, Bain VG, Burak K, Kumar T, et al. Incidence and risk factors associated with de novo autoimmune hepatitis after liver transplantation. Liver Int 2012;32:1426–1433.
4. Fiel MI, Schiano TD. Plasma cell hepatitis (de-novo autoimmune hepatitis) developing post liver transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant 2012;17:287–292.

Associated autoimmune conditions
• AIH is a/with the presence of a wide variety of other immune-mediated diseases.
Therefore, an extended diagnostic screening for other AID, especially autoimmune
thyroiditis, seems reasonable in pts with AIH, both at DX and at regular intervals during
follow-up.
In addition to the pt being affected by immune-mediated
diseases, their occurrence is also more frequent in first-
degree relatives of AIH pts, and therefore a careful family
history (40 %) should be undertaken.
25

Associated autoimmune conditions
• A careful personal and family history may also help in identifying rare variants of AIH due
to autosomal recessive genetic aberrations such as the autoimmune
polyendocrinopathy- cadidiasis ectodermal dystrophy syndrome (APECED) also known
as autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type 1 (APS-1) which is caused by
mutations in the autoimmune regulator gene (AIRE) and characterized by chronic
mucocutaneous candidiasis, ectodermal dystrophy and autoimmune destruction of
several endocrine organs, leading mainly to hypoparathyroidism, adrenocortical failure
and gonadal failure in females .
26

Diagrammatic representation of immunopathogenesis of AIH
27

Notes to the previous slide
A, a self‐antigenic peptide is presented to an uncommitted T helper (Th0) lymphocyte within the HLA class II
molecule of an APC. Th0 cells become activated and, depending on the cytokine milieu in the
microenvironment, differentiate into Th1, Th2, and Th17 cells, initiating a series of immune reactions.
B, Th1 secrete IL2 and IFN‐γ, which stimulate cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD8), enhance expression of class I,
induce expression of class II HLA molecules on hepatocytes, and activate monocytes/macrophages (M0/Mϕ)
which in turn release TNF‐α and IL1.
C, Th2 cells secrete IL4, IL10, and IL13, which induce the maturation of B cells in to plasma (P) cells.
D, expansion of plasma cells results in excess production of immunoglobulins, which bind to normal
membrane constituents of the hepatocytes, inducing complement activation, engagement of natural killer
(NK) cells, and hepatocyte death.
E, Th17 cells release IL17, IL23, and IL6. IL17 induces IL6 expression in hepatocytes, which in turn further
stimulates Th17 cells. Depending on the state of the immune system and IL6 production, a reciprocal
relationship is thought to exist between Th17 cells and T regulatory (Treg) cells.
F, Tregs are derived from Th0 cells in the presence of transforming growth factor (TGF‐β).
28

Natural history
• As follow‐up study, in which 44 pts,
diagnosed between 1963 and 1967, were
randomly allocated into control and
treatment (prednisolone) groups, provides
natural history data for pts with severe
disease. [1]
• Ten‐year survival data demonstrated
significantly improved survival in the
treatment group, where 63% of pts were
alive at 10 years (median survival 12.2
years), compared with 27% (median
survival 3.3 years) in the control group
291. Kirk AP, Jain S, Pocock S et al. Late results of the Royal Free Hospital prospective controlled trial of prednisolone therapy in hepatitis B
surface antigen negative chronic active hepatitis. Gut 1980; 21(1):78–83.

Complications of AIH
• In principle the complications of AIH are the same as in any other acute or CLD.
• In acute presentations the risk of liver failure and infectious complications are
predominant and may be aggravated by immunosuppressive treatment.
• In chronic disease, especially in pts undiagnosed or insufficiently treated, complications
of cirrhosis occur. In particular, HCC is a known consequence of AIH-related cirrhosis
although its occurrence in a/with AIH is significantly less frequent compared to most
other causes of liver cirrhosis.
30

Complications of AIH
• A recent population based study showed that the risk of hepatic and extra-hepatic
malignancy was significantly ↑ed in AIH pts.
• Studies from Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, UK, USA and Japan identified male gender
as a particular RF, and the presence of LC was a universal prerequisite for HCC
development, which was observed in the at risk cirrhotic population at a rate of 1–2%
per year.
• Of note, extra-hepatic malignancies of diverse cell types occur in 5% of pts in an
unpredictable fashion with non-melanoma skin cancers being the most common.
• Surveillance recommendations have not been validated in AIH and cirrhosis, but as the
HCC risk appears to be significant, liver ultrasonography Q6 months in pts with LC
appears reasonable.
31

Diagnostic work-up and diagnostic criteria
• The DX of AIH is usually based on the presence of the typical phenotype of the disease
along with the exclusion of other causes of CLD.
• The diagnostic criteria for AIH and a diagnostic scoring system have been codified by
IAIHG in 1993, revised in 1999 and more recently proposed in a simplified manner for
routine clinical use.
• In pts with an insidious onset and gradual progression without apparent symptoms, the
DX relies predominantly on lab findings. Therefore, the diagnostic work-up rests on such
central elements as circulating autoantibodies a/with polyclonal
hypergammaglobulinemia and typical or compatible histology in the absence of viral
hepatitis markers. Histology is also essential in making the diagnosis.
33

Laboratory findings
• A predominantly hepatitic pattern, with bilirubin and AT ranging from just above the ULN
to more than 50 X these levels, with usually normal or only moderately elevated
cholestatic enzymes, is the typical biochemical profile. [1-4].
• However, the degree of ALT elevation does not reliably reflect severity of AIH at the
histological level.
34
1. Zachou K, Muratori P, Koukoulis GK, Granito A, Gatselis N, Fabbri A, et al. Review article: autoimmune hepatitis – Current management and challenges. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2013;38:887–913.
2. Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG. Meeting report: International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. Hepatology 1993;18:998–1005.
3. Alvarez F, Berg PA, Bianchi FB, Bianchi L, Burroughs AK, Cancado EL, et al. International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Report: review of criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol 1999;31:929–938.
4. Hennes EM, Zeniya M, Czaja AJ, Pares A, Dalekos GN, Krawitt EL, et al. Simplified criteria for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology 2008;48:169–176.

Immunoglobulins
• Increased serum G-globulin or IgG levels are found in approx 85% of pts with AIH. [1-3]
• This prevalence tends to be lower in pts with an acute onset of the disease, in which a
higher proportion of pts (25-39%) with normal IgG levels has been reported. [4,5]
• The presence of high IgG levels is a very distinctive feature (IgA/IgM levels are usually N).
Increased IgA or IgM levels suggest different diseases such as alcoholic steatohepatitis and PBC, respectively.
Moreover, pts with type 2 disease often do not have significant IgG elevations.
Clinically, it is also relevant to look at the absolute IgG concentration in a pt at presentation and to gauge an
individual’s response to RX, as in some pts the IgG concentration remains within the normal range, but still
decreases with therapy.
35
1. Muratori P, Granito A, Quarneti C, Ferri S, Menichella R, Cassani F, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis in Italy: the Bologna experience. J Hepatol 2009;50:1210–1218.
2. Al-Chalabi T, Underhill JA, Portmann BC, McFarlane IG, Heneghan MA. Impact of gender on the long-term outcome and survival of patients with autoimmune hepatitis. J Hepatol 2008;48:140–147.
3. Floreani A, Niro G, Rosa Rizzotto E, Antoniazzi S, Ferrara F, Carderi I, et al. Type I autoimmune hepatitis: clinical course and outcome in an Italian multicentre study. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2006;24:1051–1057.
4. Fujiwara K, Fukuda Y, Yokosuka O. Precise histological evaluation of liver biopsy specimen is indispensable for diagnosis and treatment of acuteonset autoimmune hepatitis. J Gastroenterol 2008;43:951–958.
5. Yasui S, Fujiwara K, Yonemitsu Y, Oda S, Nakano M, Yokosuka O. Clinicopathological features of severe and fulminant forms of autoimmune hepatitis. J Gastroenterol 2011;46:378–390.

Laboratory findings
• Jaundice, coagulopathy, and hypoalbuminaemia may be noted in very acute
presentations or advanced liver disease.
Haemolysis (often accompanied by a low serum ALP value and an increased AST :ALT ratio) should prompt exclusion of
haemolytic Wilsonian crisis.
36

Autoantibodies
• Autoantibodies are hallmark of AIH and represent an important part of the DX work-up.
• Indirect immunofluorescence (IFL) is the preferable and main technique for routine
autoantibody testing for all autoantibodies except anti-SLA/LP antibodies (Solid-phase
assays).
• In adults, significant titers are ≥ 1:40 dilution by IFL.
• In children, titers of 1:20 for ANA or SMA and 1:10 for anti-LKM1 are strongly supportive
of the DX of AIH when used in combination with other lab & clinical features S/O disease.
Importantly, antibodies may be absent initially in acute severe disease, may disappear after the introduction of
immunosuppression, and up to 20% of cases may be negative for all major antibodies.
37

Antinuclear antibodies: ANA
• ANA and SMA are markers of AIH-1, which account for about 75% of pts, but are not
disease specific.[1-3] [ANAs are present alone (approx. 10%) or with SMAs (approx 50%)
in two‐thirds of pts: Sherlock]
In addition, antibodies against dsDNA (20 % in AIH) should be specifically tested in all pts, as
these autoantibodies are highly specific for only two diseases, namely AIH and SLE. The association
of dsDNA antibodies and inflammatory liver disease is diagnostic for AIH, as SLE does not in itself
cause inflammatory hepatitis. AIH and SLE may, however, be associated, as both are autoimmune
diseases
The fluorescence pattern of ANA in AIH is usually homogeneous using Hep2 cells but speckled pattern is not infrequent.
38
1. Werner M, Prytz H, Ohlsson B, Almer S, Bjornsson E, Bergquist A, et al. Epidemiology and the initial presentation of autoimmune hepatitis in Sweden: a nationwide study. Scand J Gastroenterol 2008;43: 1232–1240.
2. van Gerven NMF, Verwer BJ, Witte BI, van Erpecum KJ, van Buuren HR, Maijers I, et al. Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis in the Netherlands. Scand J Gastroenterol 2014;49:1245–1254.
3. Muratori P, Granito A, Quarneti C, Ferri S, Menichella R, Cassani F, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis in Italy: the Bologna experience. J Hepatol 2009; 50:1210–1218.

Smooth muscle antibodies: SMA
• SMAs are present in approx 90% of AIH pts either in isolation (approx. one‐third) or with
ANAs (approx half).
• However, SMAs are very non‐specific since low titres are frequent in healthy individuals,
especially those over 60 years of age and in viral, autoimmune, or malignant disease.
• Anti‐F‐actin antibodies are more specific for type 1 AIH.
• Neither their titre at DX nor their fluctuation during the course of illness predicts outcome
in adult pts.
39

Microsomal antibodies
• There are four subclassifications of LKM.
• LKM 1 reacts with the mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome P450 2D6 subtype (CYP2D6).
CYP2D6 metabolizes several known medications, including antihypertensives and
benzodiazepines.
• LKM 2 reacts with CYP450 2C9 and has been a/with hepatitis caused by the drug
ticrynafen (tienilic acid).
• LKM 3 has affinity to uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase and was previously
a/with chronic hepatitis D.
• LKM 4 recognizes CYP1A2 and CYP2A6 (with an immunofluorescence pattern
indistinguishable from that of LKM 1) and has been described in pts with AIH a/with
autoimmune polyendocrinopathy–candidiasis–ectodermal dystrophy.
The major target autoantigen of anti-LKM1 is CYP2D6 and the formiminotransferase cyclodeaminase (FTCD) for anti-LC1.
40

Microsomal antibodies
• Anti-LKM1 and/or anti-LC1 are the serologic markers of AIH-2.
• Anti‐LKM 1 is seemingly rare in the USA, occurring in only 4% of adults with AIH.
• The two antibodies often coexist and in a series of 38 AIH-2 pts, the reported prevalence
was 66% for anti-LKM1 and 53% for anti-LC1, respectively. [1]
• In paediatrics, the presence and titre of anti‐LC 1 have been shown to correlate well with
disease activity and may be a/with aggressive, recurrent disease.
• Neither anti-LKM1 nor anti-LC1 are disease specific, but both do have high sensitivity.
They also have been described in a small proportion (5–10%) of adult and paediatric pts with chronic HCV
infection .[2]
41
1. Muratori P, Granito A, Quarneti C, Ferri S, Menichella R, Cassani F, et al. Autoimmune hepatitis in Italy: the Bologna experience. J Hepatol 2009; 50:1210–1218.
2. Dalekos GN, Wedemeyer H, Obermayer-Straub P, Kayser A, Barut A, Frank H, et al. Epitope mapping of cytochrome P4502D6 autoantigen in patients with chronic hepatitis C during alpha-interferon treatment. J
Hepatol 1999;30:366–375.

Soluble liver and pancreas antigen
• Antibodies to an unknown cytosolic antigen present in liver and pancreatic tissue extracts
were first described to occur in some pts with AIH by the group of Peter Berg and named
liver pancreas (LP) antibodies.
• A few years later Manns et al. described similar antibodies to a liver cell extract and called
the antigen soluble liver antigen (SLA).
• In 2001 identification and cloning of the target antigen allowed the proof that these two
assay systems in fact described the same autoantibody, therefore named SLA/LP
autoantibody. (Prevalence of anti-SLA in pts with AIH varied between 12–21%)
The target antigen has been identified to be an enzyme involved in the synthesis of selenocysteine, an enzyme with the
name O-phosphoseryl-tRNA : selenocysteinyltRNA synthase (SepSecS).
42

Soluble liver and pancreas antigen
• Initially, individuals who were SLA/LP positive were classified as having type 3 AIH;
however, given that anti‐SLA/LP is also found in 30% of pts with type 1 AIH, the proposed
type 3 classification of AIH has been abandoned.
• Anti‐SLA/LP is a better marker of AIH since normal individuals and those with
non‐hepatic disorders are invariably anti‐LP negative.
• It has a high diagnostic value, with 99% SP for AIH, and its presence at the time of DX
may identify pts with more severe disease and outcome.
• In addition to conventional antibodies, anti‐SLA/LP may be a/with antibodies to
ribonucleoprotein/Sjogern syndrome (SS) A antigen (anti‐Ro/SSA) and anti‐Ro52
conversely can be the sole antibody detectable in pts.
Positive demonstration of SLA/LP is virtually diagnostic for AIH, but failure to demonstrate SLA/LP antibodies in no way
excludes the diagnosis AIH.
43

Mitochondrial antibodies
• AMAs may be found in approx 20% of pts with AIH. [1,2]
• They are usually lower in titre (≤1 : 40) and can represent false positives misinterpreted
by indirect immunofluorescence.
• Nonetheless, these pts should be classified and treated according to their clinical
phenotype.
44
1. O’Brien C, Joshi S, Feld JJ, Guindi M, Dienes HP, Heathcote EJ. Long-term follow-up of antimitochondrial antibody-positive autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology 2008;48:550–556.
2. Farias AQ, Goncalves LL, Bittencourt PL, De Melo ES, Abrantes-Lemos CP, Porta G, et al. Applicability of the IAIHG scoring system to the diagnosis of antimitochondrial/anti-M2 seropositive variant form of autoimmune
hepatitis. J Gastroenterol Hepatol 2006;21:887–893.

OTHER ANTIBODIES
• Further autoantibody testing may be helpful, in particular for those pts testing initially
negative in the above assays.
• Atypical pANCA antibodies, originally considered specific of PSC and IBD, are also
frequently present in pts with AIH-1.
Recent evidence indicates that the target antigen is located in the nuclear membrane and for this reason some authors
describe these antibodies as perinuclear anti-neutrophil nuclear antibodies (p-ANNA). Their positivity can be an additional
element used towards the DX of AIH, particularly if other autoantibodies are negative.
45

Autoantibodies commonly a/with CLD
46

Histology
• Liver biopsy is considered a prerequisite for the DX of Definite AIH.
• Apart from DX, it is used to guide treatment decisions and should be performed before
starting treatment, provided there are no contraindications.
Interface hepatitis (hepatitis at the portal-parenchymal interface) with dense plasma
cell-rich lymphoplasmocytic infiltrates, hepatocellular rosette formation, emperipolesis
(active penetration by one cell into and through a larger cell) and hepatocyte swelling
and/or pycnotic necrosis are the typical hallmarks of AIH .
Interface hepatitis is not disease specific and pts with drug-related,
viral or immune-mediated disease may show similar features.
48

• Panlobular hepatitis, bridging necrosis and massive necrosis all of which are signs of
severe inflammatory activity, are present less commonly but are part of the histological
spectrum and may occur in acute disease onset.
• The characteristic histological pattern is panacinar
hepatitis (parenchymal collapse) especially in biopsies
performed during an acute onset .
Alternatively pericentral (Rappaport zone 3) necrosis may be present, which
also resembles acute toxic injury. These histological lesions have recently been
proposed by the US NIH Acute Liver Failure Study Group as a set of diagnostic
criteria for AIH presented as acute liver failure.
49

• The pathologist should weigh the inflammatory activity with the aid of the HAI score in
order to give a quantitative evaluation of the inflammatory process to be monitored
during treatment and follow-up.
• Despite the growing interest for non-invasive methods for the assessment of fibrosis and
inflammation, most studies with these techniques have been performed in the field of
viral hepatitis C and very few data are available on AIH.
• The limits for the clinical use of these methods in AIH, in particular Fibroscan, are related
to the interference of necroinflammatory activity in the florid phase of the disease and to
the overlap of adjacent stages of fibrosis.
50

inflammation and nonsuppurative destruction
of the bile ducts; the infiltrates contain
lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils, and
mast cells, and the process is restricted to the
portal tracts. Epithelioid noncaseating
granulomas form very close to the injured bile
duct, forming the so-called florid duct lesion
Enlargement, edema, and scarring of the
portal triads. Proliferation of interlobular bile
ducts with mononuclear and
polymorphonuclear cells may also be present,
leading to fibrous obliteration of small bile
ducts, with concentric replacement by
connective tissue in an "onion skin" pattern
52

Diagnostic scoring criteria
• A comprehensive scoring system which grades clinical, laboratory and histological feature
of AIH, including response to corticosteroid RX, was published in 1999 by the IAIHG.
• This scoring system has been validated in several papers and, although developed as a
research tool to provide comparability among populations in clinical trials, it has been
widely used in clinical practice in assessing pts with few or atypical features of the disease
not readily captured by the descriptive criteria.
• The drawbacks of this scoring system as a clinical tool are its complexity and failure to
consistently distinguish AIH from cholestatic syndromes.
53

Summary of the criteria for the diagnosis of AIH, on
which the 1999 (IAIHG) diagnostic score was based
54

Diagnostic scoring criteria
55

Simplified scoring system
• In 2008, a simplified scoring system designed for every day clinical practice was proposed
by the IAIHG.
• It is based on four parameters: presence and titer of autoantibodies detected by IFL or
ELISA (for anti-SLA/LP), serum IgG concentration, presence of typical or compatible
histology, and absence of viral hepatitis markers.
56

Simplified DX criteria of the IAIHG.
*Addition of points achieved for all autoantibodies
(maximum, two points).
• Typical liver histology for AIH= each of the
following features had to be present namely,
interface hepatitis,
lymphocytic/lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates
in portal tracts and extending into the
lobule, emperipolesis (active penetration by
one cell into and through a larger cell), and
hepatic rosette formation.
• Compatible liver histology for AIH= chronic
hepatitis with lymphocytic infiltration without all
the features considered typical.
• Atypical = showing signs of another diagnosis,
like steatohepatitis.
Definite autoimmune hepatitis: ≥7
Probable autoimmune hepatitis: ≥6
57

Simplified scoring system
• Compared with the original revised score system the simplified score has somehow
lower SN (95% vs. 100%) but higher SP(90% vs. 73%) .[1-4]
• It does not grade response to corticosteroid therapy whose inclusion has been
advocated as an additional criterion, but is primarily meant to serve as a guide for the
initiation of treatment, at which time point information on response can naturally not be
available.
• The simplified scoring system is useful in excluding AIH in pts with other conditions and
concurrent immune features, but it is more likely to result in the exclusion of atypical
cases.
58
1. Gatselis NK, Zachou K, Papamichalis P, Koukoulis GK, Gabeta S, Dalekos GN, et al. Comparison of simplified score with the revised original score for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis: a new or a complementary
diagnostic score? Dig Liver Dis 2010;42:807–812.
2. Czaja AJ. Performance parameters of the diagnostic scoring systems for autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology 2008;48:1540–1548.
3. Qiu D, Wang Q, Wang H, Xie Q, Zang G, Jiang H, et al. Validation of the simplified criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis in Chinese patients. J Hepatol 2011;54:340–347.
4. Yeoman AD, Westbrook RH, Al-Chalabi T, Carey I, Heaton ND, Portmann BC, et al. Diagnostic value and utility of the simplified International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) criteria in acute and chronic liver
disease. Hepatology 2009;50:538–545.

SIMPLIFIED SCORE ORIGINAL
User friendly
A guide for the initiation of treatment
Complex
More likely to result in the exclusion of atypical cases . Failure to consistently distinguish AIH from cholestatic
syndromes
It does not grade response to corticosteroid therapy Grade response to corticosteroid therapy
Useful in excluding AIH
Lower SN (95% vs. 100%) but higher SP(90% vs. 73%) and accuracy (92% vs. 82%)
By both criterias, a subgroup of pts especially those with acute or fulminant onset of AIH may be missed by standard
diagnostic criteria and therefore require special attention
59

• The absence of viral markers is one of the four elements included in the simplified
diagnostic criteria for AIH, but in countries with a high prevalence of viral hepatitis co-
existence of AIH and viral hepatitis may exist.
• In these cases the DX of AIH may be overlooked and AIH could remain untreated, if
absence of viral hepatitis is considered a prerequisite for making the DX AIH.
• Usually AIH has a more aggressive course and more severe prognosis than viral hepatitis
(either B or C) and a careful evaluation of the liver biopsy along with liver autoimmune
serology testing can help in identifying the co-existence of a double mechanism of liver
damage.
• With the advent of interferon-free regimens for the treatment of HCV infection, the
possibility of treating both AIH and viral hepatitis has become much easier, and in milder
cases HCV infection should be treated first and then liver disease reassessed.
60

Autoantibody‐negative patients
• Approx 10–20% of AIH pts are initially seronegative for conventional AA, which may
appear a few weeks later or during immunosuppressive treatment or remain negative
despite repeat testing.
• Evaluation for the highly specific anti‐SLA/LP antibodies and other non‐conventional
antibodies including pANCA and anti‐LC 1, if available, should be considered.
• If patients meet the Diagnosis of AIH based on other criteria, immunosuppressive therapy
should be considered, regardless of antibody status.
• Response to therapy would confirm a diagnosis of autoantibody‐negative AIH.
61

Differential diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.
62

Differential diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis.
63

Summary features of autoimmune liver disease
demonstrating traditional descriptions
64

Summary features of autoimmune liver disease
demonstrating traditional descriptions
65

Treatment of AIH
The aim of treatment in AIH is to
1. Obtain complete remission of the disease.
2. Prevent further progression of liver disease.
• This requires mostly permanent maintenance therapy, or (only achievable in a minority
of pts) induction of a sustained remission following treatment withdrawal.
67

Remission is defined by:
Resolution of symptoms
Normalization of serum aminotransferase levels
Normalization of serum bilirubin and gamma globulin levels
Improvement in liver histology to normal or only mild portal
hepatitis (or minimal to no activity in pts with cirrhosis)
Approx 65 and 80 % of pts achieve remission by 18
months and 3 years, respectively.
The probability of achieving remission ↓after 2
years.
Once remission has been achieved, attempts can be
made to withdraw immunosuppressive therapy or
pts can be transitioned to maintenance therapy.
Some or no improvement in clinical, laboratory, and histologic
features despite compliance with RX for 2-3 years
No worsening of the condition
An incomplete response is defined by:
Sustained biochemical and histologic activity leading to the
development or worsening of cirrhosis with eventual
complications and death
The need for LT
Treatment failure is characterized by:
Response to induction therapy
Pts can respond to induction therapy in several ways:
65-80 %
13 %
10 %
In addition, some pts (approx 10 %) develop side
effects from RX that require discontinuation of a
particular therapy.
68

Whom to treat
• In symptomatic pts and pts with advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, treatment should always
be initiated as this represents a negative prognostic predictor.
• In addition, even in advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis substantial regression of scarring after
successful treatment has been reported.
In view of the progressive nature of AIH and
the effectiveness of immunosuppressive
therapy, it is recommended that all pts with
active disease should receive treatment.
69
• Patient presenting as ALF/ACLF
• Patient with Incapicitating symptoms
Added

The AASLD only recommends RX for pts with gamma
globulin >2 X ULN if the AT are at least 5X ULN, and does not
recommend treatment for pts with gamma globulin <2X
ULN unless AT >10-X ULN.
BSG guideline: which recommends treating if serum AT
>5XULN, regardless of other criteria for RX.
Level of serum AT or gamma globulin elevation does
not correlate perfectly with the degree of histologic
injury.
70

WHOM NOT TO TREAT ??
Asymptomatic pts with normal or near-normal serum
AT and gamma globulin levels
Plus who have minimal necroinflammatory activity on liver biopsy.
Such pts are at a relatively low risk of disease progression.
However, it is reasonable to offer RX to a pt with histologic
evidence of interface hepatitis without bridging necrosis or
multiacinar necrosis, particularly if the pt is young (<50 years) and
is unlikely to have severe AEs related to therapy. The benefits of
immunosuppressive RX in older pts is controversial
Characterized by the absence of inflammatory cells on liver
biopsy and normal or near-normal ATs).
Cirrhosis and inactive disease
71

Untreated AIH
• Untreated AIH has a fluctuating, unpredictable disease behavior and a substantial
proportion of asymptomatic pts become symptomatic during the course of their disease
follow-up, and progression towards end-stage liver disease with liver failure and
development of HCC is possible.
• Ten-year survival in untreated pts with mild disease was reported to be 67–90%, and in an
uncontrolled study untreated asymptomatic pts had similar survival to those receiving
immunosuppression.
• Thus, a decision not to treat might be justified, especially if there are relative CIs to the
use of steroids.
• In addition, spontaneous resolution of AIH may occur.
72

STUDIES ON AIH
Cook et al Survival benefits of immunosuppressive therapy comparing prednisolone monotherapy (15
mg/day) with placebo. Mortality rates differed markedly (14% vs. 56%).
Tage-Jensen et al. Superiority of prednisone monotherapy over azathioprine monotherapy in inducing remission .
Summerskill et al. Comb is the initial RX of choice for CALD, since clinical, biochemical, and histological resolution
of disease activity occurs as often as with Pred, whereas early side-effects are significantly less
frequent
Tan P, et al Combination regimen was a/with fewer AEs (10% vs. 44%) .
Azathioprine monotherapy, used as induction therapy, resulted in a high mortality (36%).
Murray-Lyon et al. Higher mortality rate of azathioprine monotherapy as induction therapy, compared to
prednisone (24% vs. 5%)
Lamers MM et al,
metaanalysis
PRED monotherapy and PRED+AZA combination therapy are both viable induction therapies for
AIH treatment naives and relapsers, while for maintenance therapy PRED+AZA and AZA therapy
are superior to PRED monotherapy.
73

• *Orally administered prednisolone can be used in place of prednisone at the same doses. For pts with mild disease (eg, asymptomatic pts with AT
<10 X ULN), lower dose prednisone monotherapy (20 mg/day) is an alternative.
• ¶ In pts at increased risk of AEs from glucocorticoids, a lower dose of prednisone monotherapy (eg, 30 mg daily) or combination therapy may be
preferable to prednisone monotherapy .
• Δ TPMT phenotyping should be obtained before initiating azathioprine. In Europe, an azathioprine dose of 1 to 2 mg/kg/day is often used.
◊ Prednisone may be further tapered to an individual dose that maintains remission.
• A 10 mg/day maintenance dose may be achieved by tapering the dose by 5 mg every week. A maintenance dose of 5 mg/day may be considered;
in that case, the dose is tapered by 2.5 mg every week. The maintenance prednisone regimen is continued until resolution of the disease,
treatment failure, or drug-intolerance.
• § Prednisone may be further tapered to an individual dose that maintains remission by increments of 2.5 mg/day each week down to a dose of 5
mg/day.
74

• Another reasonable strategy is to delay institution of azathioprine and start with
prednisone monotherapy.
• Delaying introduction of azathioprine (usually by about 2 weeks) can be pragmatically
helpful in managing pts with AIH, as it may on the one hand help to resolve diagnostic
uncertainties while on the other hand avoids the diagnostic dilemma of discrimination
between azathioprine-induced hepatotoxicity from primary non-response.
• Although hepatotoxicity of azathioprine is uncommon, its frequency is ↑ed in pts with
advanced liver disease.
• In general, RX of AIH should be response guided and RX regimens should be
individualized according to the response of the patient and tolerance of RX.
75

Side effects : Azathioprine
In predniso(lo)ne responders presenting steroid side
effects, a switch to budesonide (6 mg/day) may be
considered; alternatively, higher doses of
azathioprine (2 mg/kg) should be applied;
furthermore conversion of azathioprine to MMF (2
g/day) with subsequent tapering of predniso(lo)ne
may be tried, if azathioprine dose is limited by drug
toxicity or side effects .
78

• Normalization of laboratory tests and improvement in histology to normal or near normal
is generally not observed before 12 months.
• Pts with normalization of their AT levels are more likely to achieve histologic remission
(absence of interface hepatitis), though histologic remission lags behind biochemical
remission by several months.
Arthralgias frequently persist despite remission of AIH, and AT may remain elevated in the presence of coexisting NAFLD.
Also, in some pts, gamma globulin levels remain elevated despite remission by other criteria. This may be secondary to
other chronic inflammatory and/or autoimmune diseases.
Treatment failure is more frequent in three groups of pts:
• Those with established cirrhosis
• Those who develop disease at a younger age or have had a longer duration of disease before treatment
• Those who possess the HLA-B8 and/or HLA-DR3 phenotypes
79

Follow-up liver biopsy ?
• Therapy is aimed to obtain complete biochemical and histological remission.
• In pts showing a prompt response with complete normalisation of AT and IgG within the
normal limits of a follow-up, LB to demonstrate histological remission is normally not
required, as chances of significant inflammatory activity requiring ↑ed
immunosuppression are very low.
• Follow-up biopsy is recommended, if a change of MX is somewhat likely to result from
the procedure; this is particularly the case in pts with sub-optimal response to
immunosuppression, and in pts with RX AEs. In these cases, individual risk assessment of
disease progression needs to be weighed against (possible) RX AEs, and assessment of
disease grading can help in this.
• Ongoing studies suggest that Fibroscan can also be used in follow-up. Increase in LSM can
be due to either disease reactivation with increased inflammatory infiltrates and oedema,
or due to progressive fibrosis (or both).
80

BUDESONIDE
• Budesonide has a 90% first pass hepatic clearance and should not be used in cirrhotic
pts.
• Budesonide (9 mg/day) plus azathioprine may therefore be considered in treatment-
naive non-cirrhotic pts with early stage disease and in whom untoward major steroid
specific side effects are highly anticipated.
• However, we have little information about the best approach to dose reduction in
budesonide treatment. Due to the short half-life of budesonide, it is not clear if reduction
to twice daily (6 mg) and to once daily (3 mg) dosing is reasonable, or if the thrice daily
dosing should be continued, reducing individual dose from 3 mg to 2 mg and 1 mg.
81

Treatment withdrawal ?
• There is no clear evidence of optimal treatment duration. However, treatment should be
continued long enough to reach histological remission as residual interface hepatitis is
still found in pts with normalized ALT levels and is predictive of disease relapse.
• RX should be continued for at least 3 yrs and for at least 24 months after complete
normalisation of serum AT and IgG levels (biochemical remission).
• For pts with severe initial presentation and low tolerance of induction treatment,
performance of a liver biopsy prior to treatment withdrawal is advisable as histological
findings are predictive of fibrosis progression and relapse.
Longer treatments may decrease the frequency of relapse and may therefore be considered.
82

Relapse
• A relapse of the disease is frequent (50–90%) after drug withdrawal and typically occurs
in the first 12 months after stopping treatment.
• A relapse is defined as reappearance of ALT >3 X ULN according to the IAIHG criteria, but
may also present with milder ALT elevations and/or increase in IgG levels.
• A liver biopsy is usually not necessary to confirm the relapse as ALT elevations are highly
predictive.
A higher frequency of relapse has been reported to be a/with;
• Slow response to immunosuppressive RX
• Persistent elevation of serum AT and/or serum globulins and IgG
• Residual inflammation on liver biopsy
• Shorter treatment duration
• Treatment of the relapse corresponds to initial treatment with prednis(ol)one and azathioprine and is equally
effective in inducing a remission as in primary induction therapy.
• Long-term, probably permanent, maintenance treatment is advisable in pts after a relapse.
83

Maintenance treatment: azathioprine
• After achievement of clinical and laboratory resolution, the dose of azathioprine should
be increased to 2 mg/kg/day as the dose of predniso(lo)ne is gradually withdrawn.
• Azathioprine should subsequently be continued indefinitely as a continuous maintenance
therapy.
The data regarding maintenance therapy with azathioprine monotherapy at a dosage of 2
mg/kg/day are :no relapse during azathioprine maintenance therapy after 1 year and 83%
remission rate over a median follow-up of 67 months. [1-3]
In a small case series of azathioprine withdrawal after a median of five years, 50% of pts
relapsed after a median of seven years. [4]
84
1. Lamers MM, van Oijen MG, Pronk M, Drenth JP. Treatment options for autoimmune hepatitis: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. J Hepatol 2010;53:191–198.
2. Stellon AJ, Keating JJ, Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG, Williams R. Maintenance of remission in autoimmune chronic active hepatitis with azathioprine after corticosteroid withdrawal. Hepatology 1988;8:781–784.
3. Johnson PJ, McFarlane IG, Williams R. Azathioprine for long-term maintenance of remission in autoimmune hepatitis. N Engl J Med 1995;333:958–963.
4. Al-Chalabi T, Boccato S, Portmann BC, McFarlane IG, Heneghan MA. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in the elderly: a systematic retrospective analysis of a large group of consecutive patients with definite AIH followed at a
tertiary referral centre. J Hepatol 2006;45:575–583.

Maintenance treatment: Steroids
• An alternative strategy is to administer prednisolone at the lowest dose possible to
maintain the AT within normal limits.
• The major advantages of the low dose prednisolone schedule are avoidance of long-term
azathioprine therapy in fertile young adults and elimination of the theoretical risks of
onco- and teratogenicity.
• The benefit and potential risks of a maybe lifelong azathioprine or prednisolone
maintenance therapy should be discussed with the pts and the choice of which strategy
to apply in pts who have achieved remission should be individualised.
• Factors taken into consideration include the stage of liver disease and severity of initial
presentation, bone density measurements, associated diseases and RFs as well as the
age of the pt.
85

Monitoring during treatment
• Pts with AIH require lifelong monitoring, as disease flares and relapses are frequent even
after complete remission.
• Pts initiated on prednisolone/azathioprine combination therapy should have baseline
clinical and laboratory parameters monitored during the first four weeks. As the steroid
dose is tapered, monitoring intervals can be extended to one- to three months.
• During maintenance treatment, pts should be seen in three- to six-month intervals.
86

TPMT deficiency
• Azathioprine is converted to 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and this intermediate metabolite
is subsequently converted in the liver to either 6-thioguanine, 6-thiouric acid or 6-methy
mercaptopurine.
• TPMT is an enzyme involved in azathioprine metabolism. Genotyping of or measuring
activity of the TPMT enzyme, which catalyses conversion of 6-mercaptopurine into
inactive products, may to some extent predict azathioprine toxicity.
The 6-TGN which are responsible for immunosuppressive and anti-
inflammatory properties of azathioprine can also cause myelosuppressive
toxicity.
Impaired conversion of 6-MP to 6-thiouric acid can ↑ the conversion of 6-
MP to the 6-TGN and can therefore increase toxicity .
In patients with TPMT deficiency, prednisolone monotherapy regime or a
lower dose of prednisolone combined with mycophenolate mofetil
(MMF) may be used. 87

Pregnancy and autoimmune hepatitis
• The final decision to modify immunosuppression either preconception or during
pregnancy should be based on the perceived risk to the pt and the pregnancy.
• Unquestionably, pts with established LC are at greatest risk of adverse outcomes both
during pregnancy and in the first year following delivery and therefore this group
should have closest attention during this time.
• Notwithstanding the fact that azathioprine is considered a category D drug by the US FDA
, azathioprine and 6-MP have both demonstrated relative safety in pregnancy.
• In contrast, MMF which is in the same category, has significantly greater risk of
teratogenicity and should be withdrawn prior to considering pregnancy and avoided
entirely.
89

Issues with regard to breastfeeding
• With regard to breastfeeding in the context of AIH and immunosuppression, little data
exist.
• The data available is derived from use for other conditions such as IBD or rheumatological
disorders.
• In general, azathioprine or 6-MP is considered safe for breastfeeding although small
amounts of metabolite can be detected in breastmilk.
• However, this does not appear to result in complications for the feeding infant.
90

Children
• The general principles of MX of AIH presenting in childhood are similar to those presented
in adult pts with some caveats. Indications for therapy are similar.
• Multiple large series have demonstrated that the disease entity appears to be more
aggressive at presentation than that seen in adults with AIH.
• Since at DX, >50% of children will have evidence of cirrhosis, and the milder forms of
disease are not usually seen, this justifies initiation of early RX following DX.
• As with adult AIH, RX may be withheld in only rare circumstances, most specifically in the
context of burnt out cirrhosis without inflammatory activity.
It is essential to consider/rule out Wilson disease in children presenting with
hepatitis.
91

• Until now, prednis(ol)one has been the mainstay of therapy in virtually all reported
regimens for children, and it is typically administered initially in a dose of 1–2 mg/kg daily
(up to 60 mg daily).
• Opinion varies regarding rapid switch to alternate day steroid therapy in order to
minimize the effects on growth retardation. In contrast, other centres favour a low dose
daily schedule of prednis(ol)one.
• Since a concern exists for physicians, parents and children of high dose therapy on linear
growth, bone growth, and cosmesis, early introduction of azathioprine (1–2 mg/kg daily)
or 6-MP (1.5 mg/kg daily) for all children is usually recommended unless CIs exist.
92

Co-morbidity and old age
• Individualisation of therapy may be appropriate for certain groups of pts.
• In making the decision to devise strategies in MX, one needs to consider the presence of
co-morbidity in conjunction with the severity of disease and the goals of RX.
• In that regard, it is possible to identify certain categories of pts, i.e. pts with evidence of
osteoporosis at disease onset, pts with established DM and metabolic syndrome, pts
with co-existing viral hepatitis such as HBV or HCV infection.
• In a similar way, consideration needs to be given to strategies of treating pts who present
in older age, who may have a more responsive disease process and who will also have
less symptoms at onset of disease.
93

Old age
• In several studies, pts >60 years were all treated with standard regimes of
corticosteroids and azathioprine.
• In elderly pts or in those with co-morbidity, the choice of steroid therapy should be
considered carefully.
• For pts without LC, when severe steroid–related side effects are likely to exacerbate
poorly controlled DM, osteoporosis, and psychosis, budesonide 9 mg/day plus
azathioprine 1–2 mg/kg/day may be an appropriate choice. Clearly attempts at early
steroid withdrawal should be undertaken.
94

Difficult to treat patients
• Most, but not all pts respond well (non-responders) to conventional treatment, and
those who do respond may develop AEs related to the RX.
• Depending on the remission criteria used (full response with normal AT activity, normal Ig
and normal histology or only biochemical normalisation), at least 10–15% of pts seem to
be refractory to standard treatment, as a result of non-compliance, partial compliance or
true non-response.
• Furthermore, some pts might have variant syndromes.
• Finally, comorbidities may limit therapeutic options.
A lack of a reduction of transaminase by more than 25% after two weeks should be regarded as non-responsive.
95

Things to consider in non-responders
• Numerous diseases can resemble AIH including Wilson’s disease, NASH, DILI and atypical
forms of PSC or PBC (variant syndromes). These conditions may be unrecognised at
presentation and should be reconsidered if apparent non-response is observed.
• Moreover, AIH may undergo transitions during its course, with a cholestatic syndrome
emerging that might be refractory to the original treatment (secondary non-response).
• Another condition may be superimposed upon the original process during the course of
AIH such as viral infection, drug toxicity or fatty liver.
In pts with sub-optimal response despite reconfirmation of diagnosis and adherence, dosage of prednisolone and
azathioprine should be increased or alternative medications should be used.
96

Clinical Considerations and MX Options for Difficult AIH Case[1]
97
1. Gawrieh S, edt al. Management of Difficult Cases of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Curr Gastroenterol Rep. 2016 Feb; 18(2): 9. doi: 10.1007/s11894-015-0484-7
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Treatment failure: With immediate severity
• A particularly challenging scenario is the setting of severe acute
presentation/(sub)fulminant.
• Due to lack of studies, it remains unclear whether such pts should be given a trial of
corticosteroids, be priority listed for LT, or both; and if corticosteroids are indeed
initiated, how and at what time point failure of medical RX should be defined.
• Nevertheless, prognosis is poor with overall mortality ranging from 19% to 45% and rate
of LT required range from 9% up to 81%.
98

Study on acute severe AIH
• The largest study from UK included 32 pts with acute severe AIH as an acute presentation
with an INR of >1.5 at any time without histological evidence of LC. 23 pts were RX with
corticosteroids (60 mg/day) of whom 10 (48%) required LT, while all 9 untreated pts
required LT (p = 0.01).
• Untreated pts demonstrated higher MELD scores at presentation and a non-significant
decrease in episodes of sepsis but no difference in sepsis or mortality was observed
between untreated or treated pts.
• Among treated pts, no difference in MELD scores was observed between responders or
failures and 2 pts already demonstrating HE were rescued from LT by corticosteroids.
• 6 deaths (19%) occurred, all post-transplant.
99

Conclusion: Acute severe AIH
• Taken together, the available data suggests that all pts should be considered for a trial of
corticosteroids at the earliest opportunity and in sufficiently high doses (1 mg/kg) and
probably best intravenously, but the risk of infections in liver failure has to be kept in
mind and may justify the use of prophylactic antibiotics and antifungal agents.
• LT needs to be considered as an alternative, but the optimal timing is unknown.
100
While no general futility threshold can be identified, it has been shown that failure to improve serum bilirubin, MELD-Na
or UKELD within seven days in icteric presentations of AIH has a strong negative prognostic value and should lead to the
early consideration of alternative therapeutic strategies including LT.

Treatment failure: Without immediate severity
• When lack of compliance or altered metabolism of azathioprine is suspected,
measurement of active TGN metabolites may be helpful although the target range has
not been fully determined in AIH.
• In these non-responding or very slow responding pts, the usual recommendation, is to
increase predniso(lo)ne to about 60 mg/day (for at least one month) and azathioprine to
2 mg/kg/day if tolerated, as endorsed by the AASLD and BSG guidelines.
• Clinical and laboratory features may improve but most remain at risk for drug-related AE
and/or disease progression.
• In true non-responders, alternative immunosuppression might be required.
101

Alternative drug therapies for unsatisfactory responses
• The current choices of second line immunosuppressive therapy include MMF and CNI
(cyclosporin or tacrolimus).
• Their major benefits are potent immunosuppressive activity with a rapid onset of action
but these agents exhibit their own AE: HTN, AKI, DM, hyperlipidemia and neurological
disturbances for CNIs; diarrhoea, leukopenia and teratogenicity for MMF as well as ↑ed
risk of malignancy for both.
102

MMF
• MMF is an inosine monophosphate inhibitor with both anti-T and -B cell proliferation
effects.
• Most studies have used 2 g/day in divided doses and, although generally well tolerated,
up to one third of pts discontinued MMF due to AEs.
• In pts intolerant to azathioprine, MMF seems to be an effective alternative with response
rates ranging from 43%- 88%.
• In adult pts with refractory disease, efficacy appears much lower
• Experience in children is more favourable with a 67% response rate.
• It should be kept in mind that MMF is CI in pregnancy.
103

CNI
• CNI have been shown to be effective in a variety of case series in refractory pts. However,
it appears that once CNI are started, it is almost always impossible to taper out these
drugs again.
• Series in children consistently reported good efficacy with a biochemical response rate
ranging from 84 to 100%.
• Evidence for cyclosporin in adults with non-responsive AIH is much smaller but again a
high biochemical response rate 80%. However the number of pts is limited and no long-
term reports are available.
• Tacrolimus also shows promise in nonresponsive AIH and is probably safe although the
limitation of all series relates to the short degree of follow-up.
104

Other immunomodulatory therapy
• Cyclophosphamide (1–1.5 mg/kg/day)
• Methotrexate (7.5 mg/week)
• Rituximab (1000 mg two weeks apart)
• Infliximab (5 mg/kg at day 0, weeks two and six, and thereafter every four to eight weeks
depending on laboratory and clinical course)
• The use and efficacy of sirolimus has been reported initially in the context of post-
transplant AIH and recently for refractory AIH in a non-transplant setting: a sustained
>50% fall in ALT was achieved in 4/5 pts. Main AEs of : hyperlipidemia, proteinuria and
oedema, but its relatively good safety profile makes it an interesting option.
• No strong recommendations can be drawn from such small sample sizes and it should be
kept in mind that stronger immunosuppression is a/with severe infectious complications,
especially in cirrhotic pts.
105

Future Biological Treatments for AIH
• Recent data suggest that the anti-TNFα drug infliximab may be effective as an alternative
treatment for AIH [1].
• However, anti-B cell therapy with anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab) has also been
attempted in a small number of pts with AIH and has shown promising results [3,4].
• Tregs also play a major role in the pathogenesis of AIH, and Treg-mediated therapy is
another future alternative that requires additional study [2,3,5].
• Abatacept is an agent that blocks the immune system by acting on cytotoxic T cells. This
drug has been approved for the RX of RA and is another suggested future therapy for AIH
[6].
106
1. Efe C, Purnak T, Ozaslan E. Anti TNF-α therapy can be a novel treatment option in patients with autoimmune hepatitis. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2010;32(1):p. 115.
2. Manns MP, Czaja AJ, Gorham JD, et al. Diagnosis and management of autoimmune hepatitis. Hepatology. 2010;51(6):2193–2213.
3. Oo YH, Hubscher SG, Adams DH. Autoimmune hepatitis: new paradigms in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Hepatology International. 2010;4(2):475–493
4. Santos ES, Arosemena LR, Raez LE, O’Brien C, Regev A. Successful treatment of autoimmune hepatitis and idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura with the monoclonal antibody, rituximab: case report and review of literature. Liver International. 2006;26(5):625–629.
5. Yeoman AD, Longhi MS, Heneghan MA. Review article: the modern management of autoimmune hepatitis. Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics. 2010;31(8):771–787.
6. Czaja AJ, Manns MP. Advances in the Diagnosis, Pathogenesis, and Management of Autoimmune Hepatitis. Gastroenterology. 2010;139(1):58–72.

Pts with features of both PBC and AIH
• EASL guidelines, have recommended adding steroids (predniso(lo)one or budesonide) either at the time of
DX of ‘‘variant syndrome’’ or in case of inadequate biochemical response after three-months of UDCA.
• The results of a large multi-centre study (88 pts) have been recently reported: The presence of extensive
fibrosis was a/with a lack of response to the combination therapy but not to UDCA alone; second line
immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporine, tacrolimus and MMF) led to biochemical remission in half of the
pts who were non-responders to initial immunosuppression.
• These findings strongly support the use of a combination of UDCA and immunosuppression as first line
therapy in PBC pts with severe interface hepatitis.
• Interestingly, in responders, the dose of immunosuppressors in the long-term could be lower and rate of
successful withdrawal higher than in classical AIH.
• In UDCA-treated PBC developing AIH (‘‘sequential variant syndrome’’) use of immunosuppressive
treatment is mandatory.
107

Pts with features of both PSC and AIH
• Various results of therapy (usually prednisolone and azathioprine with or without UDCA)
have been reported in pts with features of both PSC and AIH.
• The combination of UDCA and immunosuppressive therapy may improve liver
biochemistry and this approach has been advocated by EASL guidelines.
108

AIH following LT
• Recurrent and ‘‘de novo’’ AIH may occur years after grafting .
• Recurrent AIH is reported in about 20–25% of cases and is usually managed by increasing
the dose of corticosteroids or re-instituting its use with or without azathioprine or
MMF.
• In non-responders, conversion of azathioprine/MMF to sirolimus may be successful.
• Prophylactic use of azathioprine in pts transplanted for AIH has not been evaluated
systematically, but appears prudent.
• ‘‘De novo’’ AIH has been described in 2–7% of patients undergoing LT for a range of diseases unrelated to
autoimmunity, particularly in the paediatric setting. The management strategy is similar to that proposed for recurrent
AIH.
• Finally, re-transplantation should be considered in pts with recurrent or ‘‘de novo’’ AIH that is progressing to graft loss.
109

Treating AIH in the context of liver co-morbidity
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
• As both AIH and NAFLD may cause persistently elevated ATs and presence of
autoantibodies, it is important to have a clear picture of what has to be treated.
• Liver biopsy is very helpful, and often indispensable, for this distinction. In pts with AIH,
the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome or the impact on outcome is unknown, but it is
reasonable to presume that the presence of steatohepatitis in pts with AIH will increase
the risk of progressive disease.
• Features of the metabolic syndrome, including DM, HTN and obesity, are exacerbated by
corticosteroids.
• Thus, associated NAFLD should be considered and treated according to current
recommendations (lifestyle interventions and pharmacological measures if appropriate).
In this population, every effort to use the lowest dose of corticosteroids (combination
regimen) should be encouraged.
110

Chronic viral hepatitis
• Although hepatitis B or C should to be excluded before making a DX of AIH, AIH can
sometimes develop in pts with HBV or HCV infection either spontaneously or under
interferon treatment, and pts with AIH can contract viral infection.
• Vaccination against hepatitis A virus and HBV should be given to all AIH pts not showing
previous vaccination or virus exposure.
• In pts with hepatitis B or C virus replication and features of AIH at DX, anti-viral (HBV or
HCV) interferon free regimen should be used first and the need for immunosuppressive
therapy reassessed after viral eradication or suppression.
111

Chronic viral hepatitis
• Reactivation of hepatitis B has been reported during treatment of AIH and baseline HBV
serology is recommended for all pts receiving immunosuppressive drugs.
• According to EASL recommendations, HBsAg-positive candidates should be tested for HBV
DNA levels and should receive pre-emptive nucleoside/nucleotide analogues
administration during immunosuppressive therapy (regardless of HBV DNA levels) and
for 12 months after cessation of therapy.
• In patients with expected lengthy immunosuppression and in all AIH pts, use of either
entecavir or tenofovir is recommended.
112

HIV infection
• De novo AIH, as an immune reconstitution, has been described in HIV pts receiving highly
active antiretroviral therapy.
• Liver biopsy findings are critical in establishing AIH diagnosis and discriminating other
numerous causes of abnormal liver tests in this setting.
• Standard immunosuppressive therapy for AIH can be effective but is sometimes a/with
life–threatening infections, and treatment for AIH in HIV-infected pts should be
individualised after careful consideration of the potential risks and likely benefits [1].
1131. Wan DW, Marks K, Yantiss RK, Talal AH. Autoimmune hepatitis in the HIVinfected patient: a therapeutic dilemma. AIDS Patient Care STDS 2009;23:407–413

Therapy is always individualized and
responsive to changes in disease
course and patient wishes.
115

References:
• Schiff’s 12th ed
• Zakim 7TH ed
• Sherlock’s 13th ed
• EASL AIH GUIDELINE 2015
• Czaja AJ. Diagnosis and Management of Autoimmune Hepatitis: Current
Status and Future Directions. Gut Liver. 2016 Mar;10(2):177-203. doi:
10.5009/gnl15352.
116
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