title: Intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy for children with autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate an efficacy of intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy (m-PSL) and the occurrence of corticosteroid-related side effects in children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH), compared with oral corticosteroid therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects consisted of nine children with AIH. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 was consisted of four patients who were treated with conventional oral prednisone therapy without m-PSL. Group 2 was consisted of five children who were treated with m-PSL as an induction therapy and maintained on oral prednisone.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median duration needed for normalization of alanine aminotransferase was 285 days (range 18-617 days) in group 1 and 54 days (range 15-116 days) in group 2. The most frequent side effects were obesity and growth retardation. The Z-score in group 1 tended to be lower than in group 2 and body mass index in group 1 tended to be higher than in group 2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The m-PSL may become a safe and effective therapy for children with AIH. Further study is needed to establish the appropriate therapy for AIH in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Atami Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, 13-1, Higashikaigancho, Atami City, Shizuoka 413-0012, Japan; Department of Pathology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, 2-1-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sogo
authors.forename: Tomoo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujisawa
authors.forename: Ayano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Haruki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Yuri
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Etani
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tajiri
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waki
authors.forename: Yukitoshi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimizu
authors.forename: Shoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakashima
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imagawa
authors.forename: Shumpei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yokota