Clinical characteristics of autoimmune hepatitis with histological features of acute hepatitis

The number of patients with autoimmune hepatitis with histological features of acute hepatitis (AIH-AH) has been increasing recently. Here, the clinic al features of patients with AIH-AH have been compared with those of patien ts with AIH with histological findings of chronic hepatitis (AIH-CH) and li ver cirrhosis (AIH-LC). The levels of total serum bilirubin (P < 0.05) and serum transaminases (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in patients with A IH-AH than in patients with AIH-CH and AIH-LC. However, the serum levels of gamma-globulin (P < 0.05) and immunoglobulin G (P < 0.05) were significant ly lower in AIH-AH than in patients with AIH-CH and AIH-LC. The aggregate s core according to the criteria of the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Gr oup in 1999 was also significantly lower in AIH-AH patients than in patient s with AIH-CH and AIH-LC (P < 0.05). Eleven patients with AIH-AH were treat ed with cortico steroids, however, the clinical response was insignificant in three patients. In summary, it is difficult to diagnose of patients with AIH-AH using the criteria of the International AIH scoring system. We wish that this scoring system would be modified in the near future. (C) 2001 El sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.