title: Efficacy and safety of prednisolone in patients with autoimmune hepatitis.
abstract: A retrospective cohort study involving 29 Japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) was performed to clarify factors that predict the efficacy of prednisolone and the occurrence of various serious adverse effects. Independent predictors were identified by logistic analysis and with use of the Cox proportional hazard model. Responses to prednisolone were noted in 28 patients, who were classified into the complete remission group (52%) or the relapse group (48%). Multivariate analysis identified alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and immoglobulin G levels as independent predictors of relapse. The adverse effects most frequently observed were diabetes mellitus (37.9%), psychiatric/ neurologic symptoms (34.5%), and circulatory symptoms (34.5%). Predictive factors included lactate dehydrogenase, albumin, and fasting blood glucose levels for diabetes mellitus, alkaline phosphatase and C-reactive protein for psychiatric/ neurologic symptoms, and autoimmune hepatitis score and lactate dehydrogenase for circulatory symptoms. Selection of an optimal treatment method for individual patients may be possible after the risks of relapse and adverse effects have been estimated.
authors.affiliation: Health Service Center, Showa University, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Etsuko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Mari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kogo
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kiuchi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibata
authors.forename: Keiji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitamura
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inawari
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D011239:Prednisolone