title: Autoimmune cholangitis within the spectrum of autoimmune liver disease.
abstract: Autoimmune cholangitis is an idiopathic disorder with mixed hepatocellular and cholestatic findings. Our goal was to characterize the disease prospectively by application of uniform diagnostic criteria. Twenty patients were identified and compared with 242 patients with conventional forms of autoimmune liver disease. Patients with autoimmune cholangitis were distinguished from type 1 autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) by lower serum levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), gamma-globulin, and immunoglobulin G; higher serum levels of alkaline phosphatase; and lower frequencies of autoantibodies. They were distinguished from primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) by higher serum levels of AST and bilirubin, lower serum concentrations of immunoglobulin M, and greater occurrence of autoantibodies. Their female predominance, lower serum alkaline phosphatase levels, higher frequency of autoantibodies, and absence of inflammatory bowel disease differentiated them from primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Laboratory findings ranged widely and did not characterize individual patients. HLA risk factors were similar to those of type 1 AIH and PBC, and different from those of PSC. Treatment responses to corticosteroids or ursodeoxycholic acid were poor. Composite histological patterns resembled mainly PBC or PSC. We conclude that autoimmune cholangitis diagnosed by prospective analysis cannot be assimilated into a single, conventional, diagnostic category. It may represent variant forms of diverse conditions, a transition stage, or a separate entity with varying manifestations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. czaja.albert@mayo.edu
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Czaja
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Santrach
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Moore
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002761:Cholangitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002756:Cholagogues and Choleretics; D006680:HLA Antigens; D014580:Ursodeoxycholic Acid