Abstract | INTRODUCTION: PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1994 and May 2007, 149 children underwent OLT, including 1 with recurrent AIH who was excluded from this study, whereas 4 others developed de novo AIH (2.7%; n = 4/148). We analyzed the demographics, laboratory characteristics, and response to treatment of the 4 children with de novo AIH following OLT. RESULTS: The 4 patients were all girls with a median interval after OLT to presentation of 6.5 years (range, 0.7-8.8 years). The median age when de novo AIH developed was 12.4 years (range, 8.7-17.3 years). All cases were detected by abnormal liver function tests, namely, increased aspartate aminotransferase (AST; median, 322 IU/L; range, 181-919 IU/L). One patient showed elevated immunoglobulin G. Three patients displayed positive antinuclear antibodies. All were seronegative for smooth muscle antibody and liver-kidney microsomal type 1 antibody. One patient showed anti-mitochondrial antibody. All patients were treated with steroids with or without azathioprine. The liver function tests in these 4 patients, improved by at least 50% during the first month of treatment, responding to steroid treatment with or without azathioprine. CONCLUSION: In preadolescent or adolescent female patients with unexplained graft dysfunction after OLT, it is important to recognize de novo AIH rapidly and to develop an adequate diagnostic strategy, including evaluation of serum autoantibodies, immunoglobulin G, and liver biopsy.
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Authors | J M Cho, K M Kim, S H Oh, Y J Lee, K W Rhee, E Yu |
Journal | Transplantation proceedings
(Transplant Proc)
2011 Jul-Aug
Vol. 43
Issue 6
Pg. 2394-6
ISSN: 1873-2623 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 21839275
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
- Autoantibodies
- Biomarkers
- Immunoglobulin G
- Immunosuppressive Agents
- Steroids
- Azathioprine
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Autoantibodies
(blood)
- Azathioprine
(therapeutic use)
- Biomarkers
(blood)
- Biopsy
- Child
- Female
- Hepatitis, Autoimmune
(diagnosis, drug therapy, immunology)
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin G
(blood)
- Immunosuppressive Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Liver Function Tests
- Liver Transplantation
(immunology)
- Republic of Korea
- Steroids
(therapeutic use)
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
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