title: Resolution of cirrhosis in autoimmune hepatitis with corticosteroid therapy.
abstract: Successful therapy for liver diseases, including autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cirrhosis, and hepatitis C, has been associated with a reduction in hepatic fibrosis. Recently, a study of needle liver biopsy specimens documented resolution of cirrhosis in a small group of patients with autoimmune hepatitis who responded to corticosteroid therapy. We describe a woman with autoimmune hepatitis who had cirrhosis on a wedge biopsy of the liver in 1985 and who attained a biochemical response with immunosuppressive therapy. A repeat wedge liver biopsy performed 14 years later was normal, providing unequivocal evidence that cirrhosis can reverse completely in autoimmune hepatitis.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hepatology, RUSH-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Cotler
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jakate
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011241:Prednisone