A case of cyclosporine-sensitive, steroid-resistant, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis.
Few alternative treatments are available for those patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis who fail to respond to the conventional treatment of corticosteroids. Such patients have a poor prognosis and frequently require liver transplantation. We report a patient with autoimmune hepatitis who failed treatment with corticosteroids and azathioprine. He responded to treatment with cyclosporine but relapsed with its discontinuation; reinstitution of the cyclosporine again induced remission. Cyclosporine appears to be an effective alternative treatment in patients with steroid-resistant, autoimmune chronic active hepatitis; its use may preclude or delay liver transplantation.
Person
J L
JL
Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, University of Southern California, School of Medicine, Los Angeles.
McHutchison
J G
JG
Fong
T L
TL
Redeker
A G
AG
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D016572:Cyclosporine; D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone