Resolution of cirrhosis in autoimmune hepatitis with corticosteroid therapy

Successful therapy for liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis, prim ary biliary cirrhosis. and hepatitis C, has been associated with a reductio n in hepatic fibrosis. Recently, a study of needle liver biopsy specimens d ocumented resolution of cirrhosis in a small group of patients with autoimm une hepatitis who responded to corticosteroid therapy. We describe a woman with autoimmune hepatitis who had cirrhosis on a wedge biopsy of the liver in 1985 and the attained a biochemical response with immunosuppressive ther apy. A repeat wedge liver biopsy performed 14 years later was normal. provi ding unequivocal evidence that cirrhosis can reverse completely in autoimmu ne hepatitis.