ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of therapeutic regimens in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH).

Clinical and demographical data of AIH patients including the therapeutic regimens given and the response to treatment were retrospectively evaluated.

Sixty-one out of 66 patients (92.4%) were treated with a combination of azathiopurine (AZA) and corticosteroids; 45 patients (73.8%) had a complete response. In 21 patients (34%) on combination therapy the treatment was modified due to nonresponse (16 patients) or side effects (5 patients) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was initiated in 10 patients (16%) as a second line therapy. In MMF group; 8 patients (80%) had complete, 1 patient (10%) had incomplete response and 2 patients had leucopenia but no cessation of treatment.

Complete response can not be obtained in approximately one fourth of patients with AZA and corticosteroid combination. Alternative treatments are limited but MMF seems to be promising in this regard.