Successful treatment of refractory type 1 autoimmune hepatitis with methotrexate

Citation
Kw. Burak et al., Successful treatment of refractory type 1 autoimmune hepatitis with methotrexate, J HEPATOL, 29(6), 1998, pp. 990-993
Citations number
21
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Gastroenerology and Hepatology","da verificare
Journal title
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
ISSN journal
0168-8278 → ACNP
Volume
29
Issue
6
Year of publication
1998
Pages
990 - 993
Database
ISI
SICI code
0168-8278(199812)29:6<990:STORT1>2.0.ZU;2-7
Abstract
Background/Aims: Autoimmune hepatitis is a heterogeneous disorder that typi cally responds to glucocorticoids with or without azathioprine. Treatment o ptions for patients not responding to standard therapy are limited. Methods: We describe a 52-year-old female who presented with jaundice, mark ed elevation in liver enzymes, positive antinuclear antibody and a liver bi opsy consistent with autoimmune hepatitis. Liver enzymes did not normalize with prednisone alone. When azathioprine was added, the disease flared. The patient refused cyclosporine. Methotrexate 7.5 mg po per week resulted in normalization of liver enzymes, improved liver histology, and has maintaine d remission with a steroid-sparing effect. Results/Conclusion: In this patient methotrexate was used successfully to t reat type 1 autoimmune hepatitis. This suggests that methotrexate may have a role in treatment of autoimmune hepatitis refractory to standard therapy.