Histological activity despite normal ALT and IgG serum levels in patients with autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis.
AIH, autoimmune hepatitis
ALD, alcoholic liver disease
ALP, alkaline phosphatase
ALT, alanine aminotransferase
AST, aspartate aminotransferase
Autoimmune hepatitis
Biochemical remission
Cirrhosis
EASL, European Association for the Study of the Liver
Histological activity
ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient
INR, international normalised ratio
LLN, lower limit of normal
Liver biopsy
MELD, model for end-stage liver disease
NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
TE, transient elastography
TIPS, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt
ULN, upper limit of normal
gamma-GT, gamma glutamyl transferase
mHAI
mHAI, modified Hepatitis Activity Index
Journal
JHEP reports : innovation in hepatology
ISSN: 2589-5559
Titre abrégé: JHEP Rep
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 101761237
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Aug 2021
Aug 2021
Historique:
received:
27
10
2020
revised:
14
05
2021
accepted:
31
05
2021
entrez:
12
8
2021
pubmed:
13
8
2021
medline:
13
8
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
In autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), normal levels of transaminases and IgG define biochemical remission and are considered the best surrogate markers for histological remission. This study assessed whether this also applies to patients with AIH cirrhosis. In this European multicentric study, we included 125 biopsies from 113 patients with AIH and histologically proven cirrhosis; 105 biopsies from 104 patients with AIH without cirrhosis served as controls. Biochemical parameters were available within 4 weeks of biopsy. AIH activity was graded according to the modified Hepatitis Activity Index (mHAI), with mHAI ≥4/18 considered to indicate risk of disease progression. In total, 47 out of 125 liver biopsies were obtained from patients with AIH cirrhosis and normal ALT levels at time of biopsy. Only 26% (12/47) of those livers showed histological remission (mHAI <4/18), whereas 36% (17/47) showed moderate to high histological activity (mHAI ≥6/18). In patients with noncirrhotic AIH, 88% (46/52 biopsies) of cases with normal ALT levels had histological remission and only 4% (2/52) had an mHAI ≥6/18 ( In contrast to patients with noncirrhotic AIH, in patients with AIH cirrhosis, who are at risk of disease progression, normal ALT levels and potentially also complete biochemical remission are poor surrogate markers of histological remission. Thus, new biomarkers are needed to monitor disease activity and progression in patients with AIH cirrhosis. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory disease of the liver that usually responds to immunosuppressive therapy. Serum transaminases and IgG levels within the normal ranges define complete biochemical remission and are considered as surrogate markers for histological disease activity. Here, we show that those biochemical markers are not sufficient to indicate low disease activity in patients with AIH and already established cirrhosis. Consequently, until better biomarkers for disease activity are found, only liver biopsy can reliably indicate disease activity in the presence of cirrhosis. Additional investigations, such as measurements of liver stiffness, should be undertaken to monitor non-invasively for disease progression in patients with AIH and established cirrhosis.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND & AIMS
OBJECTIVE
In autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), normal levels of transaminases and IgG define biochemical remission and are considered the best surrogate markers for histological remission. This study assessed whether this also applies to patients with AIH cirrhosis.
METHODS
METHODS
In this European multicentric study, we included 125 biopsies from 113 patients with AIH and histologically proven cirrhosis; 105 biopsies from 104 patients with AIH without cirrhosis served as controls. Biochemical parameters were available within 4 weeks of biopsy. AIH activity was graded according to the modified Hepatitis Activity Index (mHAI), with mHAI ≥4/18 considered to indicate risk of disease progression.
RESULTS
RESULTS
In total, 47 out of 125 liver biopsies were obtained from patients with AIH cirrhosis and normal ALT levels at time of biopsy. Only 26% (12/47) of those livers showed histological remission (mHAI <4/18), whereas 36% (17/47) showed moderate to high histological activity (mHAI ≥6/18). In patients with noncirrhotic AIH, 88% (46/52 biopsies) of cases with normal ALT levels had histological remission and only 4% (2/52) had an mHAI ≥6/18 (
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to patients with noncirrhotic AIH, in patients with AIH cirrhosis, who are at risk of disease progression, normal ALT levels and potentially also complete biochemical remission are poor surrogate markers of histological remission. Thus, new biomarkers are needed to monitor disease activity and progression in patients with AIH cirrhosis.
LAY SUMMARY
BACKGROUND
Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an inflammatory disease of the liver that usually responds to immunosuppressive therapy. Serum transaminases and IgG levels within the normal ranges define complete biochemical remission and are considered as surrogate markers for histological disease activity. Here, we show that those biochemical markers are not sufficient to indicate low disease activity in patients with AIH and already established cirrhosis. Consequently, until better biomarkers for disease activity are found, only liver biopsy can reliably indicate disease activity in the presence of cirrhosis. Additional investigations, such as measurements of liver stiffness, should be undertaken to monitor non-invasively for disease progression in patients with AIH and established cirrhosis.
Identifiants
pubmed: 34381983
doi: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100321
pii: S2589-5559(21)00097-5
pmc: PMC8333110
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
100321Informations de copyright
© 2021 The Authors.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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